CALI

LAPLACE – Johnny J. Cali, 86, a native and resident of LaPlace, died Feb. 21. He was the husband of Delia Lucas Cali.

He was the son of the late Jalcomo and MaryAnn Pizzolato Cali and brother of Josephine Guarino, Frances Jacob, Laura Pfefferie and the late Jennie Lemoine, Mary Accardo, Rose Terry and Nat, Normen and Mike Cali.

Services are today at 2 p.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, LaPlace, with interment at St. John Memorial Gardens. Visitation starts at noon.

CHAMPAGNE

HARVEY – Roland J. Champagne Sr., 75, a native of Paradis, former resident of Lafayette and resident of Harvey, died Feb. 18. He was the husband of Theresa Rodriguez Champagne and father of Roland “R.J.” Champagne Jr.

He was the son of the late Martial and Leona Champagne and brother of Virgie Orgeron, Enola Sisk, John, Warren and Raymond Champagne and the late Annie Lytell, Mary Falcon and Clarence, Monsignor Roy, Earl, Nolan and Doris Champagne.

He is also survived by two grandchildren.

Services were Feb. 21 at Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church, Harvey, with interment at Restlawn Park Cemetery, Avondale.

DUFRESNE

RESERVE – Linda Hotard Dufresne, 58, a native and resident of Reserve, died Feb. 20. She was the wife of Barry M. Dufresne and mother of David “Red” Ayme.

She was the daughter of Blanche Hotard and the late Simon “Chico” Hotard.

She worked for 35 years as an administrative assistant at Godchaux-Henderson Sugar Refinery and Colonial Sugar.

Services are today at 10 a.m. at St. Peter Catholic Church, Reserve, with interment at the church cemetery. Visitation starts at 8 a.m.

GAUDET

LAPLACE – Gail Gaudet, 58, a native of Destrehan and resident of LaPlace for 22 years, died Feb. 20. She was the daughter of the late Howard and Mary Gaudet and sister of Mona Loisel and Howard Gaudet Jr.

She was the aunt of Jamie Anderson, Mary Melancon and Michael and Brant Gaudet and great-aunt of Austin and Destin Anderson.

Services are today at 11:30 a.m. in the chapel of Millet-Guidry Funeral Home, LaPlace, with interment at St. Charles Borromeo Cemetery, Destrehan. Visitation starts at 9 a.m.

HEITMAN

PONCHATOULA – Gerald Joseph Heitman, 47, a native of Ponchatoula and resident of LaPlace, died Feb. 20. He was the son of Gloria Heitman McCarthy and the late William Heitman, stepson of Joseph McCarthy and brother of Cindy Fletcher, Judy Bergeron and Tim, Danny and Randy Heitman. He was preceded in death by an infant sister.

He was an honor graduate of Ponchatoula High School and Louisiana State University with an anthropology degree.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Ponchatoula, with interment at Ponchatoula Cemetery. Visitation starts at 9 a.m.

KNIGHT

GRAMERCY – Claude Isaac Knight Jr., 51, a native of Mt. Airy and resident of Lutcher, died Feb. 16. He was the husband of Joyce Knight and father of Claude III, Quentella and Janique Knight.

He was the son of Claude Knight Sr. and the late Delores Knight. He is also survived by four sisters, four brothers and two grandchildren.

He was a retired veteran.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at New Zion Full Gospel Baptist Church, Gramercy, with interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, Paulina. Visitation starts at 10 a.m.

MARTIN

PAULINA – Doris Marie Haydel Martin, 79, a native of Gramercy and resident of Paulina, died Feb. 19. She was the wife of the late Gordon J. Martin and mother of Kathleen Michel and Juanita Fenley.

She was the daughter of the late Denis and Marie Haydel and sister of Grace Bourgeois, Dorothy Boudreaux, Ruby Montellius, Violet Gouge, Denis “Red” and Lloyd Haydel and the late Estes Viator, Inez Bourgeois and Gaston, Hubert and Larry Haydel.

She is also survived by eight grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Services were Feb. 22 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Paulina, with interment at the church mausoleum.

MELANCON

ST. JAMES – Joseph “White Leg” Melancon, 81, a native and resident of Vacherie, died Feb. 18. He was the husband of the late Flavia Nash-Melancon, and father of Florence Roussell, Stella Castle and James, Royal, Raymond, Larry, Steve, Roland, Glenn, Clinton, Barry and the late Joseph Melancon Jr.

He was the son of the late Alexander and Lorenza Steib Melancon and brother of Lorenza Favorite, Virginia Williams, Eva Hall, Henry and Ferdinand Melancon and the late Rita Carter, Emily Weatherspoon and Alexander Melancon Jr.

He is also survived by 46 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Services were Feb. 22 at St. James Catholic Church, St. James, with interment at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery, Vacherie.

NARCISSE

WALLACE – Martha Jasmine Narcisse, 77, a native of Wallace and resident of Edgard, died Feb. 16. She was the wife by first marriage of the late Hilton Narcisse Sr. and by second marriage of the late Alexander Narcisse, mother of Shirley Johnson and Earl Jasmine and stepmother of Olivia Dillon, Estha Gordon, Catherine Thomas and Shelly Valentine.

She was the daughter of the late Dewey Sr. and Lorena Jasmine and sister of Georgania Anderson and the late Mary and Dewey Jasmine Jr.

She is also survived by 25 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Services are today at 10 a.m. at Greater Woodville Baptist Church, Wallace, with interment at First Baptist Church Cemetery, Vacherie. Visitation starts at 9 a.m.

PAYNE

NORCO – Irma Wetzka Payne, a native of New Orleans and resident of Norco for 56 years, died Feb. 19. She was the wife of the late Augustus “Ham” Payne Sr., mother of Augustus Jr. and Thomas Payne and stepmother of Barbara Starr.

She was the daughter of the late August and Christine Huber Wetzka and sister of the late Louise Robert, Marion Hubert and August Wetzka.

She is also survived by five grandchildren and one step-grandchild.

Services were Feb. 22 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Norco, with interment at Garden of Memories.

REULET

PAULINA – Norma Copponex Reulet, 88, a native of Lutcher and resident of Baton Rouge, died Feb. 19. She was the wife of 55 years of the late Raymond Reulet and mother of Wayne, Donald and Lynn Reulet.

She was the daughter of the late George Sr. and Theresa Poche Copponex and sister of Jeanne Lorio, Vivian Moreau, Ralph Copponex and the late Ulric Sr., George Jr. and Maurice Copponex.

She is also survived by four grandchildren.

Graveside services were Feb. 22 at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Paulina.

TURNER

PAULINA – Frank Will “Mickey” Turner Jr., 58, a native and resident of Paulina, died Feb. 17. He was the husband of Elouise Clayton Turner and father of Daphne Clayton, Gerald Adams and Aldrena, Dedra Faye and Tessa Turner.

He was the son of Sarah Kirklin and the late Frank Turner Sr.; stepson of Isadore Kirklin Jr.; brother of Lugena Thomas, Bernadine Thomas, Barbara Jean Joseph, Lionel Turner, Lester Scott, Isadore Kirklin III and the late Columbus Turner; and half-brother of Chris Edwards and Joyce and Eloise Turner.

He is also survived by four grandchildren.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at Evergreen Baptist Church, Paulina, with interment at Antioch Cemetery, Paulina. Visitation starts at 9 a.m.

VARNADO

METAIRIE – Allen Andrew Varnado, 42, a native of New Orleans and resident of LaPlace for 11 years, died Feb. 19.

He was the son of the late Marshall Sr. and Marilyn Graff Varnado and brother of Joy Cantrelle and Charles, Mitchell and the late Marshall Jr., Aldon and David Varnado.

He is also survived by 16 nieces and nephews and nine great-nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held Feb. 22 at St. Joseph Cemetery No. 1, New Orleans.