EmmaDell Givens

EmmaDell Mendoza Givens, 94, peacefully passed away Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 11:00am, surrounded by her family and loved ones. She was a native of Charenton, LA and resident of Houma, LA. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 from 11:00am to 1:00pm at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 1:00pm at St. Gregory Barbarigo Catholic Church. A Private interment will follow at Saint Francis de Sales Cemetery #2. She is survived by her four children: Becky Givens-Bickerstaff and husband, Ray Bickerstaff – Valley Mills, TX, Kenneth Givens and wife, Barbara – Hazlehurst, MS, Leigh Givens-Ulmer and husband, Jim Ulmer – Norcross, GA, and Greg Givens and wife, Anna – Houma; six granddaughters, Gena (Paul) Morvant, Victoria Givens, MD, Jane (Jon-Ray) Falgout, Sara (Ricardo) Rosado, Olivia Givens, Maddie Grace Ulmer, and four great-grandsons, Corbin, Jack and Gage Falgout and Gabriel Rosado; sister, Maizie Mendoza Knuckles, Lafayette, LA, nieces Karon (Emmett) Moore, Dallas, TX and Debbie (Gerald) Link, Lake Charles, LA, nephews, Brian Knuckles, Lafayette, LA and Paul Knuckles, Dallas, TX. She was preceded in death by her father, Morris J Mendoza, mother, Inez Champagne Mendoza, her oldest son, Thomas Hopkins Givens, II, and former spouse, Thomas Hopkins Givens, MD. EmmaDell Mendoza Givens, known to friends as Emmy and family as “Tot”, was born in Charenton, LA on August 2, 1920. She graduated from Lafayette High School in 1936. She attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (present day University of Louisiana – Lafayette) and received a Bachelor of Arts in 1941; a Bachelor of Science in Library Science in 1942, and the Master’s Plus 30 in Library Science in 1943 from Louisiana State University. While at SLI, Emmy was a member of the Vermilion Honor Society, which has since merged with Blue Key Honor Society. She was a member of Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society, the oldest and preeminent honor society in the social sciences; serving as President in 1941. She was member of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority; serving as President in 1941. During mid to later 40s, she served as the Reference Librarian at SLI. Emmy organized and was the first school librarian for Coteau-Bayou Blue Elementary School from 1973 - 1989. She was a longtime member of the Krewe of Hyacinthians. During her years of membership she served in the capacity as president, vice president, board member and float captain in the Krewe of Hyacinthians from 1958 - 2000, and XXV Queen of Krewe of Hyacinthians in 1976. She was a member of Southdown Museum and Terrebonne Literary Club. She was an avid painter, specializing in oils, and lifetime member of Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild. She was honored as “Artist of the Month” on several occasions with most recent showing in July 2013 reflecting her 50 years of painting. She was fervent reader and enjoyed traveling. Our family would like to express sincere gratitude to Dr. Ray Cinnater, Trudy Foret, RN, Janet Pitre, Antoinette Batiste, and the staff of Journey Hospice for their compassionate care. We would like to offer distinct appreciation to Sister Anna Schellinghaus for daily communion; and her faithful friends who preserved her courageous spirit with daily uplifting phone calls, visits and meals. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Gregory Barbarigo Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Terrebonne Fine Arts Guild or Terrebonne Parish Library.