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March 5, 1988 — March 18, 2020
Kimberly “Kimmie” Nicole Alcina, 32, a resident of Centerville, passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2020, at Acadia General Hospital in Crowley.
Kimmie was born March 5, 1988, in Phoenix, Arizona, the daughter of Joseph Michael Alcina and Flavia Theriot Alcina.
Kimmie was a caregiver at Scope 310 (Residential Intellectual of developmental disability facilities) for 7 years, where she compassionately cared for many people. Loving every minute of her job, Kimmie genuinely enjoyed spending time with her patients, making them smile and making each day a happy one for them. Kimmie was a very creative person, she enjoyed drawing and coloring. In her free time Kimmie loved being with her nieces and nephew; she mostly enjoyed playing video games with them. Kimmie also enjoyed going fishing, but no matter how many fish she caught, she refused to eat them. She had a beautiful voice and loved to share it with others through music. Kimmie had such a big heart and her family always came first.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her parents, Joseph Michael Alcina and Flavia Theriot Alcina of Centerville; one brother, Joseph Michael Alcina II and wife Mandy of Verdunville; one sister, Kelly Doiron and husband Randy of Centerville; four nieces, Katelyn Doiron, Kaleigh Doiron, Kyleigh Doiron and Kristie Alcina; one nephew, Giovanni Gonzales; aunts and uncles, Tressie Carter and husband Ken, Mary Alcina, Alisa Alcina, David Alcina, Allen Alcina and wife Ragan, and Joseph “Joe” Alcina and wife Carrie; paternal grandfather, Joseph Murphy Alcina Sr.; and grandmothers, Sarah Jane Buck and Mary Crochet Theriot.
Kimmie was preceded in death by her paternal grandmother, Pearl Ruth Alcina; maternal grandfather, Alvoid J. Theriot; and aunt, Betty Theriot McNelly.
Due to the recent health concerns and the restrictions on limited gatherings, the funeral services will be held privately by the immediate family. Friends are encouraged to view and leave a memory of Kimmie for the family on the website at www.twincityfh.com. The family thanks everyone for their understanding during this difficult time.

Editor's note: Holy Cross Church submitted this list of frequently asked questions about the operations of the church during the public health emergency. Other churches may submit information about their response to the COVID-19 restrictions to bdecker@daily-review.com. We'll publish them online and in print as space permits.

If you have family members, friends, or neighbors who are unable to receive texts or e-mails, please reach out to them. Give them a call and let them know what’s going on or help them sign up for Flocknote. We’re in this together.

Is the church open?
Holy Cross Church is open for prayer 6 a.m-7 p.m. daily, seven days per week.
What about the sacraments?
Confessions will be offered. Date, time and protocol will be announced through Flocknote and social media.
Anointing of the Sick: With the limitations which may be placed upon priests regarding access to nursing homes and hospitals, the church will continue to care for the sick and dying to the very best of its ability. Parishioners anticipating admittance to the hospital should call their priests and receive the Anointing of the Sick prior to admittance due to potential restrictions set by hospitals.
If a priest receives a call from a hospital, he will refer to the priest charged with the pastoral care of those in the hospital for further instructions in accord with current hospital norms. In Morgan City, Father Henry Sebastian is prepared to provide the Sacraments of Healing and Viaticum to all parishioners of either parish who find themselves (1) hospitalized at Oschner Teche or in residence at Maison Jardin and (2) in danger of death, so long as hospital and institutional regulations allow.
Baptisms may be celebrated as long as the number of people does not exceed 10. Remember that with parents, godparents, celebrant, and the child, that is already six people. Of course, if the parents wish, the baptism may be rescheduled for a later date.
Weddings may be celebrated as long as the number of people does not exceed 10. Remember that, with the bride, groom, witnesses, and celebrant that is already five people. Of course, if the bride and groom wish, the wedding may be rescheduled for a later date.
Funerals may be celebrated as long as the number of people does not exceed 10. Our preference is that the funeral is minimized to a Rite of Committal at graveside, with only the immediate family. Then, once the time of concern has passed, a Memorial Mass could be celebrated for the family and the public.
If the priest, in consultation with the family, deems it absolutely necessary to do so, a Funeral Mass may be celebrated, so long as the number of people does not exceed 10.
Confirmation: All public celebrations of Mass are suspended until further notice. Currently, Holy Cross Confirmation is scheduled for May 13. Should the time of concern pass, we are planning to keep this date. As always, we will keep you informed on our weekly emails.
First Confessions have been scheduled on Sunday, April 19, First Communion occurring on Sunday, April 26. Currently all Masses are suspended until further notice; therefore a decision will be made once that suspension is lifted by the Bishop. The church plans to have these celebrations once the time of concern has passed.

What other resources are available?
Parish of Holy Cross Resources
—Bulletins and the most up-to-date information as well as resources and Faith tips will be emailed every Monday.
—The social media team will post latest updates, faith tips, lives, useful information, and inspirational posts. Follow church information on Facebook and Instagram @holycrosschurchmc to stay connected.
—Father Brice scheduled LIVES
—Saturdays: Pray with Me
—Sundays: Homily
—Wednesdays: Asked & Answered
—Other impromptu lives will occur based on Father Brice’s discernment.
Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux Resources
—The Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux website page on coronavirus will include videos, podcasts, online masses, and more at htdiocese.org/coronavirus
—Bishop Fabre will celebrate mass on the diocesan Facebook page on Sundays

It’s inevitable that the current coronavirus outbreak will be compared to the epidemic in 1918, when a strain of “Spanish flu” infected 500 million people worldwide — about one-third of the planet’s population at the time. More than a quarter of the people living in the United States got sick, and 675,000 died. More U.S. soldiers were killed by the flu than died in battle during all of World War I.
The histories are hazy about the exact timing and numbers, but most date the Louisiana outbreak from the first week of September 1918, when a ship from Boston steamed into New Orleans. Fifteen passengers were sick and three had died when the ship docked. By the end of October, 14,000 people in New Orleans had suffered through a bout with the flu and more than 800 had died.
Other south Louisiana towns soon began to feel its effects. Morgan City was one of the first. In early October medical officials there prohibited “public gatherings of any kind” and other parishes and communities soon followed suit.
The St. Landry Clarion reported on October 12 that the outbreak “was not very apparent in Opelousas” but was “sufficient of a menace to cause health authorities to get busy and take precautionary measures.” Following the lead of Morgan City and other communities, “all schools, churches, and picture shows” were closed “for an indefinite period, or until the danger of disease is over.”
Unfortunately, the Clarion noted, “no one knows when that will happen.”
At about the same time, the Crowley Signal reported that more than 2,000 people had the flu in Acadia Parish alone, and that included several doctors. Health officials there were hopeful that “the epidemic is now at its height and will gradually diminish.”
It didn’t diminish right away. Just a week later, the Clarion message was much less optimistic: “There is no let-up in the spread on the ‘flu.’ On the contrary, the malady has spread so rapidly that it said to be epidemic in every state of the union and the number of victims is becoming alarming.”
On Oct. 19, newspapers in Morgan City, Franklin, St. Martinville and elsewhere used big chunks of their front pages to print in its entirety a U.S. Public Health Service bulletin that basically told people to stay away from other people.
The Red Cross sent out a call across Louisiana “urging every nurse, … first aid graduate, and all others who have had any sort of hospital training” to help tend the sick. In several places, the closed schools were turned into makeshift hospitals.
What we are now calling “social distancing” seemed to be the only thing that worked. On November 2 the Clarion was able to report, “The influenza epidemic throughout Louisiana and the other states is reported as waning, so much so that the health authorities feel extremely gratified at the present outlook, and the general public is looking forward to a full resumption of every-day activities. Schools, churches, places of amusement, etc., will reopen very shortly and the handicap people have been laboring under during the prevalence of the malady will soon be forgotten.”
It’s hard to find exactly the number of people who died in Louisiana during that epidemic. Records were poorly kept and many of the flu deaths were attributed to pneumonia. But historian Ann McLaurin did a pretty careful study (“The Influenza Epidemic of 1918 in Shreveport,” North Louisiana Historical Association Journal, Winter 1982) and estimates that there were about 174,000 cases of the flu reported in the state between Sept. 28 and Nov. 5, 1918, with 3,114 deaths.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, "Cajuns and Other Characters," is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.
Wednesday, March 18
6:30 a.m. 2400 block of Elm Street; Medical.
7:25 a.m. 1200 block of Chestnut Drive; Medical.
7:59 a.m. 1200 block of Youngs Road; 911 hang up.
10:45 a.m. 900 block of First Street; Complaint.
11:44 a.m. Old Bridge; Accident.
11:50 a.m. 1300 block of Youngs Road; Burglary.
12:30 p.m. 900 block of Duke Street; Patrol request.
1:25 p.m. Oak Street and Railroad Avenue; Arrest.
2:34 p.m. 200 block of Franklin Street; Complaint.
2:41 p.m. 1000 block of Hilda Street; Assistance.
2:45 p.m. 3000 block of Allison Street; Complaint.
2:50 p.m. 8000 block of La. 182; Theft.
3:48 p.m. Ditch Avenue and Eighth Street; Arrest.
3:51 p.m. 300 block of Second Street; Complaint.
4:13 p.m. 1400 block of Bernice Street; Medical.
4:30 p.m. 3100 block of Lake Palourde Road; Complaint.
4:40 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Theft.
5:42 p.m. 200 block of Halsey Street; Loud music.
5:47 p.m. 1700 block of Elk Street; Traffic incident.
5:56 p.m. 1300 block of Front Street; 911 hang up.
7:20 p.m. 500 block of Sixth Street; Medical.
7:22 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
7:39 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Theft.
8:33 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Reckless driving.
10:13 p.m. 1600 block of Mayon Street; Phone harassment.
11:32 p.m. 700 block of Florence Street; Assistance.
Thursday, March 19
4:27 a.m. 2600 block of Sixth Street; Alarm.
4:28 a.m. Fourth and Louisiana streets; Loud music.