With heavy hearts, we share that our mother, Jeanette Richard, who was, funny, feisty, and ever loving, passed on Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021, at the age of 85, in the Emergency Room at Anschutz Medical Pavilion in Denver, Colo., from a broken heart (aortic dissection).

Jeanette was born in New York, N.Y., in 1936 and moved to Lake Charles at the age of 12.  She lived in Lake Charles for over 66 years, attended school at Central, Lake Charles High, and professionally was a Calcasieu Parish Court Reporter for 40 years, both civil and criminal.  She went by many names; Jeanette, Baby, Mom, Mama J., Nette, and Grammy. She gave love and was loved back by many.

Jeanette is survived by the following blended family members: Melinda Christ from Denver, Colo., Vickie Wessel (John) from St. Croix VI, Lecia Gill from Denver, Colo., Charlane Compton (Jack) from Madison Ga., and Velarie Frusha (John) from Praireville, La.  Jeanette’s grandchildren are Mary Lindsey Wessel from Auburn, Ala., Lilly Renae Gill from Denver, Colo., Tadd Wessel (Carrie) from Sea Island, GA, Zachary Wessel (Lark) from Broomfield, Colo., Russell Price (Teresa) from Las Vegas, Nev., Tracy Obrecht (Jeff) from Madison, Ga., Lee Richard from Maple Valley, Wash., Margaret Landry (Brad) from Maple Valley, Wash., Mimi Brakha (Dvir) Kensington, Calif., Eric Frusha (Wendy) from Praireville, La.  Jeanette’s great-grandchildren are Carolina Wessel, John Wessel, Sarah Wessel, Zoey Wessel, Ellie Wessel, Hannah Price, Nicholas Price, Michael Baugh, Matthew Baugh, Macy Baugh, Lucy Landry, Raziel Brakha, Ella Brakha, Braize Decoteau, and Dason Decoteau.   Jeanette’s beloved sister-in law, Juanita Vicari from Baton Rouge La.  Jeanette’s nieces and nephews, Pamela Wingate (Bill) from Richmond, Texas, Frank Vincent Vicari (Lea) from Baton Rouge, La., Jeffery Vicari from Baton Rouge, La., Tina Grant (Richard) from Baton Rouge, La.  Cousins; Buster Liggio (Marlene), Jack Liggio (Sandra), Bonita Doss (Curtis), Angela Miller, Johnny Miller, and Nan Villani.   She had a blessed life filled with many more cousins and friends, too many to list.

Jeanette was preceded in death by the love of her life, Charles Warren Richard, Sr. from Lake Charles, La., her parents, Mary and Leon Vicari of Lake Charles, her brother Frank Vicari of Baton Rouge, her blended family son Charles Warren Richard, Jr., and her cousin Charles Liggio and his wife Norma.  After Charles’s death, Jeanette relocated to Denver, Colo., to be near family.

Memorial Service is as follows:  Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, at Immaculate Conception Cathedral, at 10:30 Family Greetings, 11 a.m. Rosary with a Mass to follow.  A Celebration of Life (Jeanette’s Finale) around 1-ish will be held at The Cellar at Crave for family and friends to share stories, memories, and of course, jokes.  There will be a private Interment on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021, at Consolata Cemetery.

Donations are welcome in her honor to the Cajun Navy Foundation at Cajunrelief.org/donate.

Please make a notation that the donation is in her honor.  As a survivor of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Jeanette was always concerned about her fellow residents in the beautiful State of Louisiana and loved hearing about this fabulous organization.