Hattie Opal Courville, age 93, passed away and went home to be with our Lord on Dec. 3, 2022. She was born Hattie Opal Sonnier to Dora Fontenot Sonnier and Adam Sonnier, and was raised in Soileau, La. She graduated from Oberlin High School in 1946 and married Joseph Clifford Courville from Basile in 1948. After the birth of their first child, Opal and Clifford moved from Basile to Lake Charles where they raised four children. Clifford passed away in 2005 and Opal continued to live in Lake Charles in the family home. Opal was a homemaker and devoted wife and mother. She loved her family and had a caring and compassionate heart, always helping the less fortunate. She volunteered regularly at Abraham’s Tent, the Salvation Army, the Women’s Shelter, and the Men’s Shelter. Seven days a week for 30 years, Opal delivered one-day-old donuts from a local donut shop to the homeless shelters. Any time anyone was in need, she was always there to help. Opal loved making quilts, crafts, jams and jellies and so much more. Opal was raised Baptist, but attended St. Margaret Catholic Church with her husband and children.
Those left to cherish her memory are her three sons, Michael Courville and his wife Angel of Spring Creek, Nev., Keith Courville and his companion Gwen Fruge of Reeves, La., and Kurt Courville and his wife Lindsey of Lake Charles; one daughter, Christina Doucet and her husband Sonny of Catahoula, La.; 11 grandchildren, Julie Courville, Kari Wall, Joshua Courville, Adam Courville, Isaac Courville, Haydee Lacombe, Danielle Courville, Katelyn Courville, Josie Courville, Amanda Chargois, and Teressa Mora; 13 great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Tyler, Bryce Courville, Laykin Courville, Owen Courville, Liam Courville, Braxton Chargois, Weston Chargois, Kaden Chargois, Tristan Stallion, Austin LaCombe, Taylee LaCombe, Skyler LaCombe, and Jack Saucier.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Adam and Dora Sonnier; her siblings, Herman Sonnier, Berdie Darbonne, and Ruby Leblanc; her niece, Barbara Chaumont; her nephews, Joe Darbonne, Chester Leblanc, Doug Sonnier, Steve Sonnier, and Tracy Sonnier; two grandchildren, Laura Tyler and Matt Courville; and two great-grandchildren, Khristen Abshire and Allie Stallion.
The Courville family would like to thank the staff of Brighton Bridge Hospice for their compassionate care during her last days.
Her funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Mr. Ben Lyons will officiate. Burial will follow in Prien Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Monday evening from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m., and will resume on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. until the start of the service at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, monetary contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association and to “Food for the Poor”.
Words of comfort the the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.