Callie Rose Dartez

September 5, 1927
~ June 29, 2021

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, July 2, 2021 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Mrs. Roy Dartez, 93, the former Callie Rose Richard who died Tuesday, June 29, 2021. She will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Reverend Matt Hebert officiating the services. Lectors will be Godchild Joel Vincent and Suzanne Richard.
A Crowley native, born September 5, 1927, the second of five children to the late Nelis and Domatile Bertrand Richard. Callie attended St. Michael’s Elementary and was a 1944 graduate of St. Michael’s High School. She furthered her education and attended St. Mary Dominican College in New Orleans. She was honored in World War II with a pair of wings for completing the required hours at the Observation Tower in Acadia Parish as a Civil Defense Observer on weekends and in the summer.
Unbeknownst to her how many lives she would touch all started with her first year as an educator at Mermentau Elementary. The following year was at St. Michael’s Elementary with her last year there having a class of seventh grade boys only.
She met the love of her live in April of 1947, Roy her lifetime soulmate of 64 years. They were married on November 10, 1948 at St. Michael Archangel Church in Crowley and moved to Kaplan the following year. In February of 1957 she was called by the principal at Maltrait Memorial School in Kaplan to consider finishing the year, as a 5th grade educator. That half-year lasted 25 years as a 4th grade educator.
A gifted teacher with a passion of providing the highest standard to all students. Sometimes they had to learn the hard way, but she was a master of turning bad behavior into an educational experience. That is why most 4th graders were known to have mastered their multiplication facts. She touched many lives through her dedicated service and her legacy continues to this day. After 29 years she retired in 1982 and after teaching all three of her sons.
A woman of great faith, she was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America for 70 years. Having transferred from Court St. Michaels in 1949 to Court Pere Maltrait, she served as Grand Regent Secretary and Treasurer. She was a member of the Ladies Alter Society, as vice president, secretary and treasurer. She loved her rosary group, the adoration chapel and being a Eucharistic minister for the home bound for ten years. A past member of the cajun quilters, Vermilion homemakers and the Kaplan Mardi Gras Krewe of Chic-A-La-Pie.
She enjoyed working in the yard and watching the humming birds as a past time. In 1986 she enrolled in an oil painting class in Kaplan and later in Lafayette. She will be remembered for her generosity in donating some of her paintings every year to the Holy Rosary October Fete and the Maltrait Memorial Spring Festival funds. Most recently she had volunteered her service to Maltrait Memorial office and Holy Rosary Rectory.
She is survived by her two sons, Delwyn Dartez and wife, Anna of Kaplan and Don Dartez and wife, Vicky of Baton Rouge; seven grandchildren, Kyle, Kelly, Kerri Beth, Lucas (Amber), Schuyler (Valerie), Amber (Kyle) and Nicholas (Jessica); five great grandchildren, Zoey Clare, Lane, Sadie, Tucker and Ainsley Rose; and her sister, Deanna Spell (Ronnie) of Lyons Point.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; her son, Michael; her parents, Nelis Richard and the former Domatile Bertrand; her sister, Irene Istre; her brothers, Lawrence and Daniel; her paternal grandparents, Aristle and Edoline Monceaux Richard; and her maternal grandparents, Clerpher and Eranie Mire Bertrand.
The Dartez family would like to send appreciation to the staff at Vermilion Health Care for their love and comfort over the last few months.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church, 600 N. Church Avenue, on Friday, July 2, 2021 from 9:00 AM until the time of the services at 11:00 AM with a rosary being prayed at 10:00 AM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Dartez family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.