Rebecca Burk / L’Observateur / March 25, 1998

LAPLACE – “Cousins. Identical cousins.”Gabrielle Marie Boesen and Jeanne Marie Roussel are cousins born on the same day just like the cousins in the old comedy flick “The Patty Duke Show.”But their moms, sisters Rochelle Boesen and Jeannine Roussel, say both babies look like their dads, although they were born just hours apart from each other.

The two baby girls were born on Feb. 18 at River Parishes Hospital, eachweighing over 7 pounds. Gabrielle, Rochelle’s baby, weighed 7 pounds, 15ounces, and Jeanne, Jeannine’s baby, weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces.

Their similar size will make sharing clothes easier for them, their moms said.

“Yeah, especially with them living right across the street from each other,” Rochelle said. “We always shared clothes.””Your wardrobe really doubles,” Jeannine added, laughing. “We werealways fighting over clothes.””These girls will probably do the same thing,” Rochelle said.

Although they occasionally argued over a dress or two, the two sisters, who are only 13 months apart in age – Jeannine is 31 and Rochelle is 32 – said they were always close growing up.

And they are still close, but they didn’t plan their pregnancies to be at the same time.

“Both were totally unplanned,” Rochelle said, who found out she was pregnant about a week before Jeannine did.

Besides having baby girls on the same day, the two sisters, who look very much alike, have other things in common. Boesen has two other children,both boys, ages 6 and 8. Roussel has three other children, all boys just likeher sister. Their ages are 5, 2 and 1.The sisters live with their families in Riverlands Estates in LaPlace, right across the street from each other. Their parents, John and Jean Fuselier,also live in the Estates, right across the pond from their daughters, granddaughters and grandsons.

But the two sisters aren’t the only ones to have recently had baby girls in the family. Their younger sister by two years, Monique Schloeffel ofBaltimore, Md., was about four months pregnant when Jeannine andRochelle learned their good news. So to add to the joy of two new babygirls in the family, Monique had her first child four months ago. Monique’sdaughter’s name is Nicole Marie.

Rochelle and Jeannine, along with their sister are thrilled with the possibility that their three little girls – all the same age – will grow up to share the closeness they all share.

“They’ll have to be close growing up,” Rochelle said.

“They can have shared birthday parties,” Jeannine added.

Photo: TWO LAPLACE SISTERS had baby girls on the same day, Feb. 18, at River Parishes Hospital. They are pictured here with their new additions, from left, Jeannine Roussel holding baby Jeanne and Rochelle Boesen holding baby Gabrielle.

Photo by Rebecca Burk.

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