Vivian Marie Descant

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered for Vivian Marie Descant on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Brouillette with Monsignor Stephen Scott Chemino and Reverend Abraham Palakkattuchira officiating. Burial followed in the St. Genevieve Mausoleum. Arrangements were under the direction of Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie.
The family requested visitation to be observed at Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home in Bunkie on Sunday, June 2, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. A rosary was led by St. Anthony Altar Society members at 9:30 a.m. Visitation continued at St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Brouillette from 11:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at 1:00 p.m.
Vivian “MiMi” Descant of Brouillette Community passed away gently on May 28, 2024, on her 93rd birthday at her daughter’s home in Pineville, LA. On this special day, 71 years ago, her 15-year-old brother, Terrel “T-Bud” Deville also passed away. In addition, this date marked her graduation from Marksville High School. Vivian was born and raised in Brouillette, where she married her first husband, Anthony Buey LaPrairie, and began their family of three children, Bruce, Brenda and Nanette. She was employed by the Avoyelles Parish School Board as a Federal Bookkeeper for 40 years. After retirement, Vivian served as a dedicated secretary at St. Genevieve Catholic Church. She was very instrumental in accomplishing many church projects, including the beautiful grotto on the church grounds.
Following her husband’s death, Vivian began a new chapter in her long life. She married M.D. Descant, Jr. and made her home in Bunkie. She and her children were warmly welcomed by his large and loving family, Don Pat and Becky; Dwight and Brenda; Kay and Jim; Trent and Gwen and Chuck and Melinda, along with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Vivian was also blessed by many special friendships cherished during her life in Bunkie.
Vivian was a devout Catholic with a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother, Mary. She was a member of the Altar Societies of St. Genevieve and St. Anthony Churches. Vivian found great satisfaction in “sweeping tirelessly”, often referring to it as her “free therapy”. She also loved working in her flower beds while enhancing God’s natural beauty, a talent she shared with her daughters. Vivian loved unconditionally and sacrificed throughout life for her family. She looked forward to the day she could rest peacefully with her precious son, Bruce, in her beloved Brouillette.
She is preceded in death by her husbands; Anthony Buey LaPrairie and M.D. Descant, Jr., her son Bruce Anthony LaPrairie; her parents, Irvin and Adine Lemoine Deville; and siblings, Marion Deville, Judy D. DeMattie and Terrel Deville.
Survivors include her daughters, Brenda LaPrairie Descant (M. Dwight, III) of Bunkie and Nanette LaPrairie Sanderson (Kevin) of Pineville; her grandchildren Ross and Megan, Morgan and Kristin and Metreades Dwight IV (Met) and Peyton Descant, Dominic Sanderson and Pollyanna and Ana Vivian Sanderson. Cherishing her memory are her great-grandchildren, Anna Grace, Reese, Morgan, Riley, William, Cameron, Rhett, Annalise Vivian, Mettie Sue and Isabella.
Honored to serve as pallbearers are her grandsons, Ross, Morgan, Met and Dominic, and dear family members, Glenn Wheeler and Gerald Lemoine. Altar servers are great-grandsons, William and Morgan, along with Riley and Rhett as cross-bearers.
The family wishes to thank our mother’s devoted caregivers for their love, care and compassion shown to her these past few years.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, St. Genevieve Catholic Church or St. Anthony Catholic School.