RITA DERISE AUCOIN

3/29/1928 — 8/28/2021
Rita Derise Aucoin was born March 29, 1928 in Jeanerette, La., to the late John and Josephine Derise. She passed away peacefully August 28, 2021 in Houma, La.
Rita lived in Berwick with her first husband, Lawrence Connor (deceased) and four children from 1954 to 1983. She did housekeeping for many families and developed lifelong friends. She married Beverly H. Fernandez in 1983 where they moved to Morgan City, LA. She enjoyed gardening and sharing the fruits of her “green thumb” with family and friends. When she would visit somewhere that had a plant she didn’t have, she would take a little snippet and start her own. She was also a member of the Krewe of Galatea. She then remarried to Everett Aucoin and then they moved to Patterson together and she continued to do her housekeeping. She volunteered for the St. Joseph Altar in Patterson, where she learned to make different Italian cookies. She then moved to Labadieville to live with her daughter Josie until moving to Houma where she lived the remainder of her life. Rita was an avid seamstress who made clothes for her children and grandchildren. She learned how to quilt and began making quilts for her family. She was very proud of her beautiful works of art. Rita was also a good cook. She would try new recipes and always be willing to share the bounty with friends and her children.
Her most enjoyable pastime was spending time with her great-grandchildren and telling stories of when she was young. She especially loved the company of her little Hayden and Hudson. In her last two years of her life, she was cared for by a wonderful group of ladies that she simply adored. She loved them so dearly and they became part of her family.
She is survived by her children, Bonita (John) Peltier, Lawrence (Dodie) Connor, Josie (Chris) Cancienne, and John Connor; 11 grandchildren, Eric Peltier, Sara Peltier, Rebekah Peltier Upperman (Clinton), Jason Connor-Flores (Amy), Marla Duplantis, Hillary O’Bryan, Lauren Cancienne Reynerson, Monique Cancienne Landry (Doyle), Justin Cancienne (Stephanie), Cade Cancienne, RaeAnne Connor; 20 great-grandchildren, Olivia, Alexander, Aiden, Chase, Blaize, Gabe, Brooklynn, Rayland, Gabriel, Romeo, Valentine, Jas, Dawson, Bella, Maddie, Hayden, Hudson, Brandon, Madison, Annie Mae; step-great-grandsons, Connor and Andrew. She will be deeply missed by numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Josephine Derise; four sisters and seven brothers; her husbands; father of her children Lawrence Connor; Beverly H. Fernandez; and Everett Aucoin, Jr.; and her daughter-in-law Patsy Connor.
Pallbearers: Eric Peltier, Justin Cancienne, Cade Cancienne, Jas Dixon, Dawson Landry, Clinton Upperman.
Honorary Pallbearers will be great-grandsons and great-granddaughters.
The family would like to give a special thank you to her nurse Kim, who stayed late with the family each night for her last few days. The family would also like to thank the staff at Terrebonne Place and Journey Hospice.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, September 8, 2021 from 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., at Hargrave Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian burial at 1:00 p.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson, La. She will be laid to rest at the Berwick Perpetual Cemetery in Berwick.
Condolences can be mailed to Bonita Peltier at 5064 Highway 317, Franklin, La 70538.