Ligia Ellender

Ligia Ribas Ellender, 92, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 5:00 PM. She was a native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and resident of Houma, LA for 66 years. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 16, 2013 from 8:00 AM until service time at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic. Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, December 16, 2013 at 10:00 AM at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. Francis de Sales Cemetery #2. She is survived by her, husband, Allen Joseph Ellender, Jr., M.D., sons, Allen Ellender, III of Boise Idaho, Gerald Ellender and wife Mary of Houma, William Ellender of Houma, Michael Ellender of Abita Springs, Claude Ellender of Casadero, CA, Charles Ellender of Abita Springs, David Ellender and Mary Alison of Houma, Jules Ellender and wife Susan of New Orleans, Frank Ellender and wife Sandee of Houma, Elward Ellender and wife Margaret of Houma, daughters, Maria Ellender Florek and husband Mike of Kenner, Sister Lucia (Nancy) Ellender, OCD of Little Rock, AR, Carmen Ellender Waitz and husband David of Houma, grandchildren, Shannah Ellender, Jessica Ellender, Joshua Ellender, Cory Firmin, Sarah Ellender, Callie Ellender Blalock, Jaime Ellender, Julie Ellender Grice, Ricky Ellender, Andy Florek, Katie Florek, Ashley Ellender Lasseigne, Matthew Ellender, Claire Ellender, Kathryn Ellender, Andrew Ellender, Caroline Ellender, Jack Walsten, Will Walsten, Brian Waitz, Christopher Waitz, Jacob Waitz, Stephen Waitz, Kami Ellender, Carly Ellender, Ian Ellender, William Brennan Ellender, Evan Ellender, Noah Ellender, great grandchildren, Brooke Ellender, Anakyn Quina, Tate Quina, Sophie Quina, Ava Ellender, Audrey Ellender, Elise Blalock, Alex Blalock, Colin Blalock, Liza Ellender, Emily Grice, Ari Ellender, brother, Jose' Ribas, longtime family friend and devoted caregiver, Laura Collins. She was preceded in death by her, parents, Julio Ribas Salguero and Candida Rivera Ribas, sister, Carmen Dolores Ribas Rivera Leon. She attended the Sacred Heart High School in Ponce, and Sacred Heart University in San Juan both run by the RSJC sisters. She served her country in WWII at the 330th station hospital at Borinquen Field (AAC) as a Lab Technician where she met her husband. After discharge they lived in Houma in the Ellender house where her husband was born and raised a large family of 10 boys and 3 girls. She was a parishioner and member of the Ladies Altar Society at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. She was a member of the Medical Auxiliary. She had a great devotion to the Catholic Faith. She always graced life with enthusiasm and always had a smile. Her greatest joy was cooking and being surrounded by her family. She was a beautiful woman inside and out. The family would like to thank Dr. Jules Dupont, Bayou Home Care, Monique Trahan, PT and staff and H.L. Haydel Memorial Hospice and her sitters, Dana, Danielle and Pat. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Little Rock Arkansas, 7201 West 32nd Street, Little Rock, AR 72204-4716.