The Daily Advertiser from Lafayette, Louisiana • 15

Feb. 4, 2004 www.theadvertiser.com The Advertiser 5B Teacher accused of ripping off head scarf of Muslim student Educator allegedly told child, "I hope Allah punishes you." NEW ORLEANS (AP) A teacher at a suburban high school was removed from his classroom because of accusations that he yanked off a Muslim student's head scarf and allegedly told her, "I hope Allah punishes West Jefferson High School principal Lale Geer confirmed Tuesday that social studies teacher Wes Mix had been sent home a day earlier, but declined to go into detail about the incident. "All I can tell you is he's no longer at my school, and that's the way we handled it," Geer said. "The school is a good school, and we appreciate diversity. We have all different ethnic groups in our school." The alleged victim, Marym Matar, 17, told The Associate Press that the alleged incident Louise Arnould Orgeron Hartiens LAFAYETTE Louise Hartiens, 73, passed away at 6:25 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, at a Mass of Christian burial at St.

Edmond Catholic Church. The Rev. Christopher Duhon, associate of St. Edmond Catholic Church, will be the celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services, and con-celebrant will be the Rev. Timothy Richard, pastor of St.

Edmond Catholic Church. Visitation will be observed from 10 a.m. Thursday until service time at St. Edmond Catholic Church. Interment will be in St.

John Cemetery. Mrs. Hartiens requested that a reception and celebration of her life be held in the Family Center of St. Edmond Church for family and friends immediately after the burial. Following her wishes, the reception will feature music reflecting her Acadian heritage, including, "J'ai Passe Devant ta Porte," one of her favorites.

A native of Lafayette, she was born on April 6, 1930. She was predeceased by her birth parents, Sidney Arnould and Cecile Broussard Arnould, and her beloved adoptive parents, Camille Arnould and Rose Broussard Arnould. Also preceding her in death were several siblings, Helen Marie Arnould, Florence Marie Arnould, Sidney Paul Arnould and Russell "Bris" Arnould. She is survived by her devoted husband of 21 years, Albert Hartiens; her children and their spouses, Marie Antoinette Orgeron, Jacqueline Louise Landrum and her husband, Terry, and Douglas Edmond Orgeron and his wife, Colleen, all residents of the Lafayette area; and her sisters, Jacqueline "Jackie" Plaisance, of Baton Rouge, and Catherine Raggio and her husband, Earl, of Lafayette. She is also survived by her aunt, Eloise "Chic" Broussard Judice, many dear cousins, and her former daughter-in-law, Susan Orgeron.

Among her other descendants are her grandchildren, Rachel Arredondo, David and Michael Landrum, Christopher and Cyrus Orgeron, and Camille Dawson, all of the Lafayette area, Diane Griffin, of Burbank, and Peggy Rambosk, of Panama City Beach, Fla. She welcomed several stepgrandchildren into her family, including Celeste, Christy and Keith Landrum, Janet Dawson Miller and Sara and Kathryn Mancuso. Her family grew with the next generation of great-grandchildren, Alicia Landrum, Gabrielle Dawson, Robbie Miller, Seth and Cameron Arredondo and Kaitlyn and Tyler Rambosk, 5B Kennedy enters Senate race occurred Friday as Mix was giving a test in his 10th-grade world history class. Matar said Mix 1 had a habit of tossing test sheets at students, with the tests often scattering on the floor. "I never thought it was my A obligation to pick it up from the floor, so I snatched it from his hand," she recalled.

Soon after that, the teacher allegedly pulled back her scarf, or hijab, and said, "I hope God punishes you sorry I hope Allah punishes you I didn't know you had hair under there." Matar was born in Iraq but moved to Montreal as a young girl, then moved to Gretna about six years ago. She said she discussed the matter with her uncle, Kasim Casey, over no the weekend and he took the complaint to the principal Monday. Casey said he was "very appreciative" of Geer's reaction. "He was disgusted and he took firm action right away," Casey said. Matar said she received "straight As" in Mix's class but still felt the teacher should be fired.

"He knew it was wrong and he knew what he was doing, and he has no right to do it," she said. "He went beyond his limits." Geer said the Jefferson Parish School Board would decide whether Mix is fired. Superintendent Diane Roussel did not return a phone message left at her office Tuesday. Islamic civil rights activists say head scarves on Muslim women have become a lightning rod for anger directed at Muslims. In Peterborough, England, a teacher is accused of pulling a hijab off of a 15-year-old student's head, causing pin scratches on the girl's neck.

And in France, critics claim a law that would ban "conspicuous" religious symbols in public schools is really meant to address head scarves on Muslim students, even though it also bans skull caps worn by some Jews. BATON ROUGE (AP) -Confirming weeks of speculation about his intentions, state Treasurer John Kennedy announced Tuesday that he is mounting a U.S. Senate campaign in hopes of filling the seat being vacated by John Breaux. Kennedy, of Madisonville, filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission indicating his intention to run in the fall election and making the treasurer the first Democrat to declare his candidacy for the post. "I'm looking forward in the coming months to the opportunity to share my ideas about the challenges our state and our nation face and how I feel I can best serve the people of Louisiana in the United States Senate," Kennedy said in a news release.

Breaux's popularity kept most opponents at bay, but the announcement he would end his 18-year senatorial career began what is expected to be fierce competition for his seat as Republicans try to nab their first senator from Louisiana and Democrats try to retake control of the chamber. The only other declared candidate so far is Republican Congressman David Vitter, of Metairie. Rep. Chris John, D- Crowley, has formed an exploratory committee for a likely run, and Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is reportedly considering the race. Man gets lottery check after 3 arrested METAIRIE (AP) That's the ticket: A Morgan City man whose $100,000 Powerball ticket was allegedly stolen finally got his money Tuesday.

Charles Stone, 33, received the check at the Louisiana Lottery's Metairie office, eight days after state troopers arrested three people for allegedly altering the ticket and trying to claim the cash for themselves. A fourth suspect was arrested Jan. 29. "I feel very lucky," said Stone, adding that he plans to "invest some, spend some" of OBITUARIES Evangeline State Park. He worked as a clerk at the City Hall for 30-plus years.

He is survived by his wife, Connie Guirard Ducrest; his son, Mark Ducrest and his wife, Julie; two daughters. Yvonne Daigle and her husband, Randy, and Becky Cormier and her husband, Eddie, all of St. Martinville; one brother, Willis Ducrest and his wife, Grace, of Lafayette; one sister, Loretta Lasseigne and her husband, Allen, of St. Martinville; six grandchildren, Carrie Louviere, Misti Adria Cormier, Brandi Richard, Joshua Cormier and Colby Cormier; and seven greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Frank Ducrest; his mother, Anna Mouton Ducrest; an infant daughter, Yolande Ducrest; and a brother, Robert Ducrest.

In lieu of flowers, please make any contributions to the American Lung Association. It will be greatly appreciated. Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge, (337) 332- 2111, is in charge of arrangements. Evangeline State John S. Roberts RACELAND Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 6, 2004, at Falgout Funeral Home for John S. Roberts, 37, who died Thursday, Jan. 29, 2004. Interment will be in St.

Charles Cemetery in Luling. A native of St. Charles parish and a resident of Youngsville, Mr. Roberts was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps.

He is survived by his wife, Barbra Roberts; his mother, Cynthia Cedatol; his guardian parents, Rene and Cheryl Matherne; one son, John S. Roberts two daughters, Velvet N. Roberts and Alexis R. Roberts; and two brothers, Lloyd Cedatol Jr. and Floyd Cedatol.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howell S. Roberts; and his stepfather, Lloyd Cedatol Sr. Visitation will be observed from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday at Falgout Funeral Home.

Falgout Funeral Home of Raceland, (985) 537-5261, is in charge of arrangements. Marguerite Grow Sturgis ARNAUDVILLE Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, at a Mass in St. Francis Regis Catholic Church in Arnaudville for Marguerite Sturgis, 84, the former Marguerite Grow, who died Monday, Feb.

2, 2004. Interment will be in St. al of a his winnings. Stone bought the ticket at a convenience store, signed and took it to a convenience store in his home town of Morgan City to see if it was a winner. Four employees of that store allegedly told Stone it was not a winner, then scratched off his signature and replaced it with one of their own.

Hang Nguyen, 43, of Amelia, Nhat Nguyen, 25, of New Orleans, and Ngoc Tran, 46, of Amelia, were arrested Francis Regis Cemetery in Arnaudville. The Rev. Jules Arceneaux, pastor of St. Francis Regis Catholic Church, will officiate at the services. Ms.

Sturgis was a native of Berwick and had been a resident of Arnaudville for most of her life. She graduated from La Salle Business School in New Orleans and attended Northwestern University of Natchitoches where she was a member of Pi Kappa Sigma. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1944 at Southeastern University in Hammond and completed her post graduate work at USL. Ms. Sturgis was employed as a school teacher at Parks Elementary, Cecilia High School, Arnaudville High School and Little Flower Parochial Catholic School.

She was a parishioner of St. Francis Regis Catholic Church in Arnaudville and had been a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Survivors include seven sons, Ray Sturgis Jr. and his wife, Lila, of Vicksburg, Charles Sturgis and his wife, Jackie, of Carencro, Richard Sturgis and his wife, Lin, of Baton Rouge, David Sturgis and his wife, Kathie, of Lafayette, and John Sturgis and his wife, Brenda, Paul Sturgis and James Sturgis, all of Arnaudville; one daughter, Marguerite Hardy and her husband, Sam, of Arnaudville; 12 grandchildren; and eight greatgrandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Andrew Sturgis her parents, Charles Valentine Grow and the former Ara Lydia Alpha; one brother, Ephus Grow; and one sister, Inez McKinney.

A rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. today in the funeral home. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. today and to continue from 8 a.m.

Thursday until service time. Pallbearers will be her sons. Melancon Funeral Home of Arnaudville, (337) 754-5725, is in charge of arrangements. Hazel Sherman Touchet ABBEVILLE Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb.

4, 2004, at St. Theresa Catholic Church for Hazel Sherman Touchet, 85, of Abbeville. The Rev. Curtis Mallet will officiate the services. Interment will be in St.

Paul Cemetery. Survivors include one son, Roy Sherman and his wife, Lula, of Kaplan; two daughters, Wanda S. Simon and her husband, Donald, of Abbeville, and Dot S. LeBlanc and her husband, George, of Abbeville; one brother, Stanley Simon and his wife, Shirley, of Abbeville; one sister, Barbara Monte and her hus- when they tried to cash it in. Hoang Nguyen, 21, of Amelia, surrendered three days later.

The four were charged with altering lottery tickets and conspiracy to alter lottery tickets. State police said they each face sentences of 5-10 years in prison if convicted. Kimberly Chopin, a state lottery spokeswoman, said officials suspected the ticket had been altered because the suspects took "great pains" to scratch off Stone's signature, apparently using pens with two different colors of ink. RITES Clarence F. Landry, Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Lafayette, 9:30 a.m.

Jean B. Crochet, St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Lydia, 10 a.m. Tim D. Abshire, Vincent Funeral Home, Kaplan, 11 a.m.

Evelyn T. Guillot, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Jeanerette, 11 a.m. Cyprien Johnson, Quirk Son Funeral Home Chapel, Eunice, 11 a.m. G.

LeBlanc, St. Bernard Catholic Church, Breaux Bridge, 11 a.m. Nelson M. LeBlanc, Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Broussard, 11 a.m. Mary L.

Bordelon, Sibille Funeral Home Chapel, Opelousas, 1 p.m. Enola Broussard, St. Bernard Catholic Church, Breaux Bridge, 2 p.m. Marie L. Castille, Melancon Funeral Home Chapel, Opelousas, 2 p.m.

Gerald C. Chaisson, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Cecilia, 2 p.m. Minos A. Delcambre Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, New Iberia, 2 p.m.

L. Noel, Church of Latter Day Saints, Lafayette, 2 p.m. Hazel S. Touchet, St. Theresa Catholic Church, Abbeville, 2 p.m.

Hazel F. Trahan, St. Joseph Catholic Church, Rayne, 2 p.m. at Quirk Son Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in St.

Paul Cemetery. Quirk Son Funeral Home of Eunice is in charge of arrangements. ABBEVILLE Belinda Gayle Richard, 42, died at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at her residence.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at David Funeral Home. Interment was held in Harrington Cemetery in Forked Island. David Funeral Home of Abbeville was in charge of arrangements. LAFAYETTE Patricia Jayne Gorton Sherron, 43, passed away Monday, Feb.

2, 2004, at an area hospital. Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Thursday. Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette is in charge of arrangements.

ST. MARTINVILLE Mary Gutierrez Theriot, 61, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at an area nursing home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St.

Martin de Tours Catholic Church. Interment will be in St. Michael Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

today with a rosary to be recited at 7:30 p.m. and will continue from 7 a.m. Thursday until time of services. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements.

LAFAYETTE Eloise Webb, 87, died Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2004, at her residence. Funeral services are pending. Fountain Memorial Funeral Home of Lafayette is in charge of arrangements. Simon, Donny Simon, Dean Simon, Wayne LeBlanc, Gaylynn LeBlanc, James Sherman and Ryan Sherman.

Honorary pallbearers will be Brenda Henry, Tammera Hollier, Karen Palombo and Annette Stelly. The family would like to thank the nursing home staff and residents of Vermilion Health Care, Dr. Randall Faulk and Hospice of Acadiana. Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893- 4661, is in charge of arrangements. in to 0.

TO SUBMIT OBITUARIES AND FUNERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Obituaries and funeral announcements pay tribute to loved ones' accomplishments and offer a service to friends who would like to pay their respects. Friends and families have prepared these obituaries and funeral announcements that have been submitted by a funeral home. To submit announcements and discuss fees, please contact your funeral director. Funeral homes wishing to submit an obituary or funeral announcement, call (337) 289-6427. The deadline to submit announcements is 3 p.m.

the day before publication. Obituaries of military veterans are marked with an American flag at the request of the family to honor loved ones for their service. all of whom brought great joy to her life. Mrs. Hartiens was a 1947 graduate of Mt.

Carmel High School in Lafayette and attended UL Lafayette, when it was still known as SLI, majoring in piano. Her lifelong love of color and beauty led her to open and own Le Stitchery, a Lafayette needlework shop, an establishment she ran for 18 years. Her business was a place of learning, sharing and happiness. Many of her customers became lifelong friends who relished the nurturing atmosphere of joy that she brought to her clientele. Upon her retirement, she joined her husband, Albert, in establishing a series of art classes and seminars for students of all ages and experience at his place of business, Hartiens' Framing and Art Supplies.

Another passion she enjoyed after her retirement was gardening, where she created an oasis of floral serenity at her home. Her love of beauty found a new outlet in recent years when she took up painting and quickly became adept with both oil and watercolor media, producing portraits and landscapes. Her appreciation of flowers was also evident as the subject of many of her still life paintings. Music was incorporated into her paintings as well, as she usually painted while listening to classical selections. In the last year of her life, she was especially proud that she sold several of her paintings to appreciative clients.

She often expressed that her only regret was that she had not started painting earlier in life. Despite her many business demands, she always found time to return her talents to the community. In her younger years, she served as president of the Mother's Club at Our Lady of Fatima School and volunteered her time at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau when her daughters were students there. She was also a founding member the Cajun Bayou Chapter of the American Needlepoint Guild. For many years, she and her husband, Albert, were supporters of Acadiana Outreach (formerly The Well and Naomi House), Faith House and Hospice of Acadiana.

They shared a deep love of their parish church, St. Edmond Catholic Church. The family would like to thank the countless friends and relatives who came to the aid of her husband and children during her brief illness. Without their help and support, this time would have been far more difficult. These wonderful people include the staff of the oncology floor at DEATHS KAPLAN Tim D.

Abshire, 41, died Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Vincent Funeral Home. Interment will be in Kaplan Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 8 a.m. today until time of services. Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan is in charge of arrangements. OPELOUSAS Mary Lou Nell Bordelon, 67, died at 4:55 p.m. Monday, Feb.

2, 2004, at a local hospital. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Sibille Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 8 a.m.

today until time of services. Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas is in charge of arrangements. OPELOUSAS Marie Castille, 99, the former Marie Laviolette, died at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Melancon Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in St. Landry Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 8 a.m.

today until time of services. Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas is in charge of arrangements. NEW IBERIA Minos Anthony Delcambre 81, died at 1:20 a.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at his daughter's residence.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Interment will be in Broussard Cemetery in Bayou Petit Anse. Visitation will be held from 8 a.m. today until time of services.

David Funeral Home of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements. LAFAYETTE Ann 65, died at 4:20 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at her residence. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m.

Friday at Catholic Deaf Center. Interment will be in St. Peter Cemetery in Pine Prairie. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m.

Thursday with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. at the funeral home and will continue from 8 a.m. Friday until time of services at the Deaf Center. Martin Castille Funeral Home of Lafayette is in charge of arrangements. VILLE PLATTE Charleen Fontenot, 52, the former Charleen Nero, died at 12:30 a.m.

Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004. Funeral services were held at noon Tuesday at Queen of All Saints Church. Interment was held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. LaVille Funeral Home of Ville Platte was in charge of arrangements.

NEW IBERIA Mrs. Alvin L. Foreman, 90, the former Jennie Brinson, died at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, 2004, at a Tallulah nursing home.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church. Interment was held in Rosehill Cemetery. Evangeline Funeral Home of New Iberia was in charge of arrangements. JEANERETTE Mrs.

Millard A. "Joe" Guillot, 85, the former Evelyn Theriot, died at 12:45 p.m. Monday, Feb. 2, 2004, at a New Iberia nursing home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m.

today at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Entombment will be in the church mausoleum. Visitation will be held from 8 a.m. today until time of services.

David Funeral Home of Jeanerette is in charge of arrangements. EUNICE Cyprien Johnson, 85, has passed away. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Feb. 4, 2004, band, Leo, of Abbeville; 11 grandchildren; 20 greatgrandchildren; and eight great She great was grandchildren.

death by her husband, Francis Sherman; her father, Doris Simon; her mother, Beulah Bufford; and a brother, Ray Simon. Visitation was observed from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. Tuesday and will continue from 9 a.m. today until time of services.

A rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Lynn sp 253 Our Lady of Lourdes, the staff of Hospice of Acadiana, Paulette Lemelle, Patty Cosper, Carla Theall, Susan Clark, her nieces and nephews, Louise Ann, Robert, Bill, Phil and Helen Plaisance, Kathleen Raggio, her sisters, Jackie Plaisance and Catherine Raggio, and her grandchildren, Camille Dawson, Chris and Cyrus Orgeron, Rachel Arredondo and David and Michael Landrum. Pallbearers will be Jerry Arredondo, Christopher Orgeron, Cyrus Orgeron, Robert Plaisance, Michael Landrum and David Landrum. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the following charities: Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503; Faith House, P.O.

Box 93145, Lafayette, LA 70509; and St. Edmond Catholic Church, 4131 West Congress Lafayette, LA 70506. Arrangements have been entrusted to Martin Castille Funeral Home, Inc. of Lafayette, (337) 234-2311. Hugh ST.

memorial at 11 a.m. Hugh M. Ducrest ST. MARTINVILLE A Mass will be held Saturday, Feb. 7, 2004, at St.

Martin de Tours Catholic Church for Hugh M. Ducrest, 91, who died at 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004. As a young boy, Hugh attended St.

Benedict Seminary in Covington for seven years. Later, he attended the Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans for one year. He worked in the Draft Board Office in St. Martinville Courthouse before being drafted in the Army. He spent nearly four years being stationed at Fort Lewis in Seattle, and also at an Army base in Juneau, Alaska.

He joined the Knights of Columbus Council No. 1276 as a third degree Knight, which he served as Grand Knight. He also became a member of the Monsignor J.M. Langlois Assembly as a Fourth Degree member of the Assembly. He served as lector at St.

Martin de Tours Church and also as narrator for the May Day Pageant for St. Martin de Tours at the is in of of of St. 87, of to of of.