Mildred’s Obituary Mildred is an identical twin to Laurene Broussard and the two have been inseparable until Laurene’s death in 2014. When separated physically, they still shared the same thoughts, ailments and feelings which they confirmed by phone or in person at their next meeting. On Valentine’s Day after she lost Laurene, she noticed a heart-shaped mark on her face she believed Laurene had placed there.
The two looked so much alike, and often confused their family. They were shopping buddies and we all joked that the employees at Dillard’s knew them by name. They made it to New Orleans for many Mardi Gras celebrations and stayed with their cousins Raymond and Marsha.
Their last trip to New Orleans, Mia and Beth joined them and Raymond pulled out all of the stops for the parade. Mildred’s “claim to fame” occurred when she and Laurene performed in “The Great Big Doorstep”, which was featured in Life Magazine in 1948. She briefly attended McNeese State University and then went to work at Shell Oil in Lafayette where she thoroughly enjoyed her job.
She married Charles Farris in Lake Charles in 1960, and had two sons Craig and Kevin. They moved to Pasadena, TX and had a daughter Mia. Her children’s friends enjoyed many meals at the Farris household which was at-the-ready providing delicious homemade meals by Mildred.
She made sure all her children knew how to cook and passed on her love of homemade family recipes. Living in Pasadena, TX she became best friends with Frances Risinger and they remained close all these years. Frances, Jeri and Ginger all played Spinner or Shanghai together and Mildred was an accomplished competitive player.
Mildred and Craig enjoyed weekly dinners together while watching the Astros, Saints, Texans, or LSU Tigers. Mildred’s favorite sport in the Olympics was ice skating, and she also loved viewing the Westminster Dog Show. Mildred had many talents.
We know she was a great cook, but she painted, sewed, and made beautiful heirloom quilts for her family. Mildred’s children’s and grandchildren’s friends commented how Mildred touched their lives, and all felt Mildred treated them like her own. Mia’s friend Robbie said: “I share Mia’s sadness as I’ve known Mil since our kids were babies.
My kids, who she hugged and kissed as they grew up, call her Grammy just like her own grandkids”. After her and Charles divorced, she later found love again and married Roy Walling who preceded her in death. Roy’s daughter Stephanie and her family became Mildred’s family.
Loved ones who cleared the path for Mildred are her mother and father Ernestine Louise and Bernard Earl Ruckstuhl; eldest sister Edna Adele, brother George, twin sister Laurene, and nephew Joshua Broussard. Mildred is survived by her adoring children: Craig and wife Kicker Farris; Kevin and wife Dalita Farris; Mia and husband JD Johns; daughter of her late husband Stephanie Foy and husband Dana; six grandchildren Kevin Farris Jr., Mason Johns, Ava Johns, Steven Foy, Andrew Foy, and Amy and husband Jarrod Hageman; and great grandchild Laurel; brother Robert Ruckstuhl and wife Ann; and brother in law Donald Broussard. Mildred will be missed by her nephew David Ruckstuhl and wife Sarah; nephew Nathan Ruckstuhl and wife Terri; niece Lauren and husband Neely Balko; nephew Phil Broussard and wife Simone; nephew Tim Broussard and wife Lee Lee; and niece Beth Broussard and husband Jared Faulk; great nieces Karlee, Aberdeen, and Evelyn; and great nephews Matthew, Brandon, Kanon, Leif, Milo, Reid, and Slaid.
Donations in memory of Mildred can be made to St. John’s Episcopal Church. Visitation will begin on Sunday, January 27, 2019 at Johnson Funeral Home, 4321 Lake St., Lake Charles, LA 70605 from 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM. A graveside service will follow at 2:00 PM at Consolata Cemetery, 2300 Country Club Rd.
, Lake Charles, LA 70605. Church services will be held at 1:00 PM on Monday, January 28, 2019 at St. John Episcopal Church, 815 South Broadway, LaPorte, TX 77571.
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