Billie Aucoin Spatafora

Billie Aucoin Spatafora passed away peacefully on January 6, 2016, following a brief illness at the age of 92, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Visitation will be Friday, January 8 at Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe, Louisiana, from 5p.m. to 7p.m. Recitation of the rosary will be at 6 p.m. followed by a celebration of Billie Spatafora’s life presented by her family. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 9, at St. Matthews Catholic Church with Reverend Joseph Puthapally, Reverent Richard Norsworthy and Reverend James Dominic officiating. Interment will be at St. Matthews Catholic Church Mausoleum under the direction of Mulhearn Funeral Home. Honored to serve as pall bearers will be Billie’s six grandsons: Jacque Derr, Jr., Billy Hedgepeth, Will Spatafora, Kyle Spatafora, Ben Duty and Nicolas Spatafora. Honorary pall bearers will be: Bob Bell, Bill Cooper, Mike Cooper, Bud Boudreaux, Jim Boudreaux, Jim Simmons, John Savage, George Carso, and Charlie Sampognaro.Billie was born in Echo, Louisiana on August 31, 1923. She was the daughter of William Aucoin and Laura Boudreaux Aucoin. Billie lived in Thibodeaux and Monroe, Louisiana, and graduated from St. Matthews Catholic High School in 1940. After attending Northeast Louisiana Junior College, Billie enrolled in Turo School of Nursing in New Orleans. Following graduation in 1945, she worked at St. Francis Hospital and for Dr. Lacour. She worked as a nurse until she began her family, then her husband and children became her full time job.In October of 1948, Billie married the love of her life, Gene Spatafora. This union brought forth seven children who loved their mother and cared for her with an undying devotion. Together, Gene and Billie owned and operated Spats Rexall Drugs, where she worked until her death. During Billie and Gene’s fifty-nine years of marriage they enjoyed traveling the world and making a lifetime of wonderful memories. Throughout her ninety-two years, Billie devoted her life to her God, her family and caring for others, especially her mother, Laura Aucoin. She was a member of St. Matthews Catholic Church and an active member of the Altar Society. Billie was preceded in death by her husband Gene Spatafora; parents, William and Laura Aucoin; and her sister, Matilda Cooper. She is survived by her children: Laure Derr and her husband Judge Jacque Derr; Connie Milam and her husband, Tommy; Dr. Robert Spatafora and his wife Lisa; Terri Hedgepeth and husband Jim; Julie Duty and her husband David; Dr. Joseph Spatafora and wife Elizabeth; and Barbie Landwehr and her husband Ken. She is also survived by eighteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and her sister, Louise Boudreaux.Special thanks to Terry Lynch and Jenny Durbyn for their special love and care throughout the past year. The family is also appreciative to St. Francis Hospital especially the 5th floor nurses and Compassus Hospice for the care provided their mother. The family would also like to thank Reverend James and Reverend Phillip, the priests that provided pastoral care of their mother during her final days.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Matthews Catholic Church Community Center Fund or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.To leave a world a better place….to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived….this is to have succeeded. Billie truly succeeded in life and for this, we are forever thankful. The world has lost a great woman, but Heaven has gained an angel. Online Registry/Condolences:www.mulhearnfunerahome.comMulhearn Funeral HomeMonroe, LA