CECILE PICHON WOODS

CELEBRATING THE LIFE & LEGACY OF

November23, 1935 - March 28, 2019

Cecile, was born in New Orleans, LA to the late Arthur and Mary Pichon on November 23, 1935. Cecile’s love for family and friends is rooted in her upbringing and growing up in the close-knit community called “Voscoville” where everyone was either related in some way and friendships last for generations. Cecile attended Booker T. Washington High School before marrying Joe Nathan Woods, her husband of fifty years. She and Joe Nathan would continue to build close bonds with family and friends. On Sunday’s after church, you could always find Joe Nathan, Cecile, and their three children Karen, Jonathan, and Johran visiting Grandma Ellen in “Pilotland” or hosting family and friends at their home.

Cecile was a seamstress at Haspel and Joe Nathan was a Navy man. In 1965, the family transferred to Long Island, NY where Cecile began to work with computers. In Hempstead, she enjoyed bowling and dancing and forging long-term friendships that have lasted a lifetime. The family relocated back to New Orleans in 1968, where Cecile became an IBM Keypunch Operator and the young couple purchased their first home in the Seabrook community. Over the next three decades Cecile’s knowledge of computers led her to work for the City of New Orleans, Doussan Oil, Liberty Bank, and Gilyot Mortgage Company where she helped many in the community purchase their first home.

In addition to Cecile’s love for family and friends, she had a strong belief in God and the Catholic Church. She was baptized at St. Raymond Catholic Church and her strong faith rubbed off on Joe Nathan who converted to Catholicism then became an influential member of the Knights of Peter Claver. Cecile served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Raymond Church and was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary Club.

In the early 70’s, Cecile and Joe Nathan built their dream home in New Orleans East. Cecile liked decorating and using her sewing skills to make beautiful window curtains, shower ensembles, and decorative towels. Cecile loved her grandchildren who adoringly refer to her as “Cile.” She enjoyed attending the grandchildren and great grandchildren’s school and sporting events. Cecile loved to travel and she and Joe Nathan went on several adventures. They often took road trips traveling in what became known as the “senior citizen van” that they drove to Hot Springs, Arkansas, Portland, Maine, and the Great Smokey Mountains in TN. In 2004, Cecile was diagnosed with colon cancer and while she survived, 2005 brought the loss of her beloved husband and the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Cecile relocated to Washington, DC where she continued her Eucharistic Minister services at St. Gabriel Roman Catholic Church. She became part of the Washington, DC community by volunteering to teach senior citizens how to use email, working at the local AARP, and going on bus rides to the casinos.

Cecile was determined to return to her roots in New Orleans. With a plan in hand in 2007, she returned home and began rebuilding and reconnecting with family and friends. Cecile continued to serve the St. Raymond/St. Leo the Great Catholic Church community and was a member of several senior citizen centers where she enjoyed playing bingo, exercising, and socializing. She was an active member of the Trumpeters and continued her adventure for travel by going on bus rides to nearby casinos and far away places such as St. Louis and San Antonio. When she was not traveling, Cecile enjoyed sewing, redecorating her house, and watching reality TV shows. She also enjoyed telling stories about Bonfouca Bayou where the Pichon family settled and was proud of her Creole heritage.

She leaves to cherish her memory one daughter Karen W. Cooper, two sons Jonathan Woods and Johran Woods, one son-in-law Ivory Gene Cooper and two daughters-in-law Deborah Woods and Katrina Woods, eight grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren, five brothers-in-law, seven sisters-in-law, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Two brothers, Robert and Leo, and three sisters, Valeria, Lorraine, and her fraternal twin Cecilia, preceded Cecile in death.

St. Raymond Catholic Church Celebrant: Father Anthony M. Bozeman, S.S.J. 2916 Paris Avenue* New Orleans, LA 70119 Thursday, April 4, 2019 Visitation 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

Prelude Recitation of the Holy Rosary Reflections ……………………………………………………… Mary Ellen Jones, Jamal Woods, Johran Woods, Jr. Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………………………………………. Norleen Pichon Reading of Obituary ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. Valarie Walker Parting View

Eucharistic Liturgy Opening Hymn ……………………………….. “How Great Thou Art” ........................ Dwight & Connie Fitch Opening Prayer ……………………………………………………………………….. Father Anthony M. Bozeman, S.S.J.

Liturgy of the Word 1st Reading …………………………………………….. Job 19:1, 23-37 .…………………. Reverend Harvey Hollmon Responsorial Psalm 27 ……………………………. “The Lord is my Shepherd, there is nothing I shall want” 2nd Reading …………………………………………… Romans 14:7-9, 10-12 ……………………………. Valerie Waller Gospel / Homily ……………………………………………………………………… Father Anthony M. Bozeman, S.S.J.

Liturgy of the Eucharist Presentation of Gifts ……………………………………….……………………………. Rose Ann Delay, Agnes Laurent Offertory Hymn …………………………………………………………………………….. “Walk Around Heaven All Day” The Lord’s Prayer ……………………………………………………………………………………….. Dwight & Connie Fitch Communion Hymn …………………………………………………………………………………………… “Center of My Joy” Meditation Hymn ……………………………………………………………………………………………. “Don’t Cry For Me” Final Commendation Recessional ………………………………………………………………………………………………… “I’ll Fly Away Medley”

Ce c i l e P i c h on Wood s November 23,

1935 –

March 28, 2019

Ce c i l e P i c h on Wood s November 23,

1935 –

March 28, 2019

Let Me Go… Cristina Rossetti

“When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me I want no rites in a gloom filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?”

Ce c i l e P i c h on Wood s November 23,

1935 – March 28, 2019

Life is but a stopping place, A pause in what’s to be A resting place along the road to sweet eternity

We all have different journeys, different paths along the way We all are meant to learn some things, but never meant to stay Our destination is a place far greater than we know For some, the journey’s quicker, for some the journey’s slow

And when the journey finally ends, we’ll claim a great reward And find an everlasting peace together with the Lord

DeSean Bostic Marcus Candiff Daniel Lawrence

Michael Bostic Alexander Hollmon, Jr. Jailon Woods

Darryl Brazile Wayne Dugue Rodney Lindsey

Jimmie Duplessis Jeffrey Jenkins Art Morris Jakai Woods

Dianne Lindsey Joy Rister Dianne Morris Ebony Woods Kyla Woods

The family wishes to express their deep appreciation and sincerely thank you for your kind expressions of sympathy. The family sends a special thank you to the management and staff at Park Provence where Cecile lived for the past 18 months, Ochsner Northshore nursing staff for their patience and kindness, and to Connie & Dwight Fitch for sharing their wonderful gift of song.

Majestic Mortuary Services, Inc. 1833 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

New Orleans, LA 70113

Mt. Olivet Cemetery 4000 Norman Mayer Street New Orleans, Louisiana 70122

City Park Arbor Room at Popp Fountain 12 Diagonal Drive New Orleans, Louisiana 70124 Program Design & Printing: Our Celebrations of Life (504) 453-2186 * ourcelebrationsoflife@gmail.com