Catherine Handy

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. in the Sunrise Chapel at Walters Funeral Home for Octavia Catherine Catalan-Porche-Handy, 73, who passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.  Father Chester Arceneaux, Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, will officiate the ceremony.

Visitation hours will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 2:00 p.m.  A rosary will be prayed on Friday at 11:00 a.m. at Walters Funeral Home.

Catherine died in the City and Parish of Lafayette, LA on the 20th day of February, 2018.  She was born to John Roland Catalan and Mary Madel Labbe Catalan on Feburary 24, 1944. They predeceased her to the grave by many years.

Her survivors include her four daughters, Barbara C. Porche of Lafayette, LA, Mona L. Porche-Antoine (Michael) of Lafayette, LA, Laura F. Porche-Joseph (Chad) of Baton Rouge, LA, and Edrea Kathryn Handy-Robinson (Cameron) of Lafayette, LA; three grandsons, Marlon and Myron Antoine of Lafayette, LA and Joshua Joseph of Baton Rouge, LA; one brother, Albert R. Catalan and wife Gulzeman Catalan of Orlando, FL; four nephews; three nieces; two aunts, Marie R. Labbe Lopez and Juanita Catalan Singleton; two uncles, James Labbe and Russell Labbe all of Lafayette, LA; her godfather, Irone Senegal of Chicago, IL; and a host of relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, Catherine’s first husband, Larry F. Porche; her sister, Sylvia Catalan Landry, her brother, John Earl Catalan; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Clydie and Charles Porche, Sr.; and three very special relatives, her great uncle, Dr. John Ovey Catalan, who delivered her; her uncle, Herbert Labbe; and her nephew/godson, Ivan K. Landry also predeceased her to the grave.

She attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Elementary School during her early years, then graduated from Holy Rosary Institute in 1961.  After high school, she attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now University of Louisiana Lafayette.  Although her course of study was Business Education, her entire work life was in the field of helping others.

Catherine often said that she received a little piece of heaven every day because one or more of her daughters and grandsons visited her. She supported them in their life decisions, and often provided advice and words of wisdom.  She cared for them deeply, always putting their needs before her own.  She did so until her final breath, by writing her own obituary.

She will be buried with the bones of her husband, Larry F Porche, in the Porche-Catalan tomb, St. John Cathedral Cemetery, Lafayette, LA.

As a life-long Roman Catholic and Christian, she has relegated her soul to the divine mercy of God the Father, his Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Pallbearers will be her three grandsons and her sons-in-law.

In lieu of flowers, Catherine has requested memorial contributions be made to the American Sickle Cell Anemia Association.

The family would like to thank the following: Dr. Chancellor Donald and staff, Dr. Joseph Kowalski and staff, Dr. Steven Snatic and staff, the staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, and all those who showed her any kindness throughout the years.

Walters Funeral Home, (337) 706-8941, 2424 North University Avenue in Lafayette, is in charge of funeral arrangements.