Sister Louis, Vivian Dekerlegand

April 6, 1917 - June 1, 2010

Sister Vivian,  known to many as Sister Mary Louis, entered the Congregation of the Marianites of the Holy Cross in 1935. She pronounced her perpetual vows on August 11, 1940.

Earning a Baccalaureate Degree in 1943, she was involved in education at all levels, teaching in various Catholic schools in Louisiana, including in New Orleans, Eunice, Ville Platte, Franklin, Morgan City, Lake Charles, Opelousas and Houma.  Sister Vivian also earned a Masters Degree in Home Economics from Our Lady of the Lake College  in San Antonio, Texas.  She was certified in History, English and French.  Following these teaching experiences in various geographic locations, she ministered in the Diocese of Lafayette at St. Mary's Learning Center and at the Diocesan Chancery working as Assistant Archivist and Clerk in the Marriage Tribunal.

Sister Vivian celebrated 75 years of religious life and throughout these years she shared a spirit of living life to the fullest. In whatever position she found herself, she served as mentor and teacher instructing others in the art of celebrating life whether the task was researching and writing, sewing and cooking, studying history and learning French.  Her love and appreciation for others was colorfully woven through each experience and was distinctly evident in the tapestry of lives she touched.

She is survived by Anna Jane Marks, MSC Associate and long time friend and sister.  She is also survived by many nieces and their husbands, and nephews and their wives, who stayed close to her all of her life.

She was preceded in death by her father, Alexis Dekerlegand and he rmother, Valerie Naquin Dekerlegand, both from Arnaudville.  She was also preceded in death by her four sisters, Mary Lanclos, Eileen Gallier, Beatrice Mundy and Lillian Hile and two brothers, Clarence Dekerlegand and George Dekerlegand.