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- [S927] Obituary.
Bella Nickerson Chappuis Abramson
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LAFAYETTE - Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, 2005, at a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Genevieve Catholic Church for Bella Nickerson Chappuis Abramson, 88, who died Sunday, May 29, 2005, at her home in Sterling Grove. Entombment will be in the Calvary Mausoleum.
The Rev. Monsignor Glen John Provost, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church will be the celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Con-celebrants will be Monsignor Reverend Harry Benefiel and the Rev. Jody Simoneaux, pastor of St. Genevieve Catholic Church. The readings from the Old & New Testaments will be read by her granddaughters, Elise Chappuis Danner and Elisabeth Kraft Cortez. Prayer of the Faithful will be led Mrs. Richard Chappuis Jr. and the eulogist will be her daughter, Cherie Chappuis Kraft. Giftbearers are her granddaughters Sarah Nickerson Chappuis and Amy Louise Chappuis. Dave Domingue and Jodi Bollich, soloist, accompanied on the organ by Tom Niel and violinist, Lauren Baker will sing for the funeral services, "Ave Maria", "Psalm 23", "Hail Mary, Gentle Woman", "Panis Angelicus" and "Pie Jesu".
Bella Nickerson Chappuis Abramson, a native of Lafayette and a member of one of Southwest Louisiana's pioneer families was born Nov. 11, 1916, to Isabella Judice Nickerson and John Cameron Nickerson. Isabella Judice Nickerson was the daughter of Alcide and Anais Judice. Alcide Judice was the founder of Scott, La. John Cameron Nickerson's father, John Cameron Nickerson Sr., moved his family to Louisiana from Simcoe, Ontario in 1878 and built the Nickerson home where Mrs. Abramson resided, located in Sterling Grove on the corner of Simcoe Street and Sterling Street.
Mrs. Abramson was rooted in a family tradition that always stood for excellence in education. Her grandfather, Alcide Judice, was the first President of the Lafayette Parish School Board and her uncle, Leo Judice was President of that same body for more than a quarter of a century. Leo was also the Mayor of the Town of Scott. Judice Hall on the ULL Campus is named for Alcide and Leo Judice, as is Judice Middle School and L. Leo Judice Elementary School.
She shared her father's interest in the cultivation and nurturing of beautiful camellias and azaleas and other flowering plants and trees which abound the grounds at Sterling Grove.
Mrs. Abramson graduated Valedictorian of Lafayette High School and was a Cum Laude graduate of Southwest Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1937.
While a student at SLI, she was crowned Camellia Queen in 1935. Also, she served as President of the Vermilion Honor Society which has since merged with Blue Key. After graduation from SLI, Mrs. Abramson was employed as secretary to SLI's Dean of Men, Rexford McCullough. Thereafter, she married the late Colonel Richard D. Chappuis Sr. and after the end of World War II, they established their home in Lafayette.
At this time, Mrs. Abramson embarked upon a long and devoted career of service to ULL and the community of Lafayette. After the death of Colonel Chappuis, she married Dr. Samuel "Pete" Abramson in 1985. Dr. Abramson was also an alumnus of Lafayette High School and SLI.
A long time member of the ULL Foundation, Mrs. Abramson served on its Board of Directors and its Activities Committee for many years. For 17 years, she served on the ULL Arts Center committee and chaired the fundraising arm of that committee. She was a faithful sustainer of the ULL Foundation's Honor Roll. Because of her generous donations, each year the tuition of a deserving secondary education student is paid. A spirited supporter of ULL athletics, crisp fall afternoons found her cheering the Ragin Cajuns' football team. Over the years, Mrs. Abramson has made numerous contributions to the ULL President's Club, the University Art Museum, the Eminent Scholar Trust Fund, the Dupre' Library Fund and the Distinguished Professor Awards.
In 1984, Mrs. Abramson was requested by Lafayette's Mayor to become a member of the Board of Directors of the Lafayette Centennial Commission. She also served on the Mayor's Welcoming and Reception Committee for the visit of French President and Mrs. Valery Giscard D'Estaing.
Mrs. Abramson was a Charter Member of the Service League of Lafayette, which later became the Junior League of Lafayette. She participated as Vice-President of that organization and chaired many of its fundraising events. In 1963, as a member of the Service League, Mrs. Abramson organized and helped write the first televised French education program in the area, "Dites Moi", which ran for two years.
Another area of service to which Mrs. Abramson was devoted was the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association. A charter member of the Ladies Committee of that Association, she served as its Chairman for a number of years. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Association and was a member of both the Sponsor and Fundraising Committees. Her love of Mardi Gras emanated from her Reign as Queen Evangeline IV in the Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association Ball in 1937.
Mrs. Abramson was honored for her many contributions to Lafayette's Mardi Gras by being chosen Parade Marshall of the King Gabriel's Parade in 1990.
Aided by her strong Catholic faith, Mrs. Abramson was a staunch supporter of the Catholic Church and Catholic Education. She was a member of St. Genevieve Catholic Church Congregation for most of her life, served on the Board of Trustees of St. Thomas More Catholic High School Foundation, as well as the Board of Directors of Our Lady Fatima Foundation. Mrs. Abramson was devoted to the Carmelite Monastery, serving as member of the Carmelite Angels. In 1995, she was honored to be chosed as Queen of the Bishop's Charity Ball for her many services to the church and the community.
Her further contributions to the Lafayette community are borne out by her membership on the Board of Directors of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra Association and the Board of Directors of the Acadiana Arts Council for many years. She was a member of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited, the Lafayette Historical Association, CODOFIL, the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana, and the Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium as well as the Good Neighbor Council.
Mrs. Abramson was a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and her greatest joy was being surrounded by her family. She is survived by two sons, Richard D. Chappuis Jr. and his wife, Teeta and John N. Chappuis and his wife, Colleen; a daughter, Cherie Chappuis Kraft and her husband, Ralph; her grandchildren, Richard D. Chappuis III and his wife, Shana; Elise Chappuis Danner and her husband, Dwayne; Cameron C. Chappuis and his wife, Amy; Elisabeth Kraft Cortez and her husband, David; Scott Brantley Chappuis, Sarah Nickerson Chappuis and Amy Louise Chappuis; her step-grandchildren, Catherine Rose Rountree and her husband, Gordon; Christine Helen Cook and her husband, Christopher; her great-grandchild, Cecile Cameron Chappuis; and her step-great-grandchildren, Elliott and Rose Rountree and Catherine and Christopher Cook Jr.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Colonel Richard D. Chappuis Sr. After Colonel Chappuis' death, she married Dr. Samuel "Pete" Abramson, who also predeceased her. She was also preceded in death by one son, Edward Randolph Chappuis; her parents, Isabella Judice Nickerson and John Cameron Nickerson; one sister, Lucille Nickerson Vennard; and two brothers, John Cameron Nickerson and Alcide Judice Nickerson.
The family wishes to acknowledge the devotion of the long-time caretakers of her home, Gustavia McZeal and Howard Charles and the loving attention given to her by care givers Virginia Broussard, Mary Andrus, Betty Hebert and Goldie Thibodeaux. The family wishes to thank Dr. Ronald Jenkins, Dr. Michael Mounir, Dr. Norman Anseman, Dr. Harold Chastant, Rusty Reed, R.P.T. and the Staff of Hospice, especially nurses Donna Vidrine and Kelly Zaunbrecher for the excellent medical services they provided.
Pallbearers will be Richard Dudley Chappuis III, Cameron Charles Chappuis, Scott Brantley Chappuis, Ralph Edward Kraft, Glenn David Cortez Jr., R. Dwayne Danner and Roland Delahoussaye.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in the name of Bella Nickerson Chappuis Abramson to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503, ULL Foundation, 705 E. St. Mary Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70503 or to the Carmelite Monastery, 1250 Carmel Dr., Lafayette, LA 70501.
A rosary was recited at 6 p.m. Monday in the Martin & Castille Funeral Home by the Rev. Msgr. Harry Benefiel.
The family requested that visiting hours be observed from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Monday and will continue from 10 a.m. today until time of services.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Martin & Castille Funeral Home, Inc. of Lafayette. 337-234-2311.
View obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com <http://www.mourning.com/>
- [S926] Find-A-Grave, (www.findagrave.com).
Bella Nickerson Abramson
Birth: 11 Nov 1916 Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USA
Death: 29 May 2005 (aged 88) Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USA
Burial: Calvary Cemetery, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USA
Plot: Mausoleum of the Resurrection
Memorial #: 167797044
Bio: Bella Nickerson Chappuis Abramson died Sunday, 29 May 2005, at her residence in the Sterling Grove neighborhood of Lafayette, Louisiana. The Rev. Monsignor Glen John Provost celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial and conducted Mrs. Abramson's funeral service on Tuesday, 31 May 2005, at Our Lady Of Fatima Catholic Church, with the Rev. Monsignor Harry Benefiel and the Rev. Jody Simoneaux (St. Genevieve Catholic Church) serving as con-celebrants. Entombment followed at Calvary Mausoleum.Mrs. Abramson, born 11 November 1916 at Lafayette, Louisiana, to John Cameron Nickerson and Isabella Judice Nickerson, was a "member of one of southwest Louisiana's pioneer families." The valedictorian of her class at Lafayette High School, she graduated from Southwest Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) in 1937. She married, as her first husband, Col. Richard D. Chappuis Sr, who died in 1982. Three years later she married Dr. Samuel "Pete" Abramson. Mrs. Abramson was a "staunch supporter of the Catholic church and Catholic education." A parishioner of St. Genevieve Catholic Church for "most of her life," she "served on the board of trustees of St. Thomas More Catholic High School Foundation, as well as the board of directors of Our Lady of Fatima Foundation." She was also devoted to "the Carmelite Monastery, serving as member of the Carmelite Angels."Mrs. Abramson was preceded in death by her two husbands; a son, Edward Randolph Chappuis; her parents; a sister, Lucille Nickerson Vennard; and two brothers, John Cameron Nickerson and Alcide Judice Nickerson. Survivors included two sons and their wives; a daughter and her husband; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and four step-great-grandchildren.Mrs. Abramson's family suggested that family and friends, in lieu of flowers, make contributions "in the name of Bella Nickerson Chappuis Abramson" to Hospice of Acadiana in Lafayette, Louisiana.Mrs. Abramson's biography is based on information found in: Bella Nickerson Chappuis Abramson obituary, _Advocate_, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 30 May 2015.Mrs. Abramson is buried with her two husbands and her son Edward, all of whom preceded her in death. Her remains were laid to rest beside her first husband and above her second husband?in the only (family) burial space still available at the time of her death. Her memorial is listed under her second married surname, Abramson, as that is the surname by which her family identified her in the obituary cited above. It is also the name under which she is listed in the Social Security Death Index. See "U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935?2014," database, _Ancestry_ (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=3693), for Bella N. Abramson (11 November 1916?20 May 2005).
Family Members
Spouses
Richard Dudley Chappuis* 1912-1982
Samuel Ralph Abramson* 1917-1997
Children
Edward Randolph Chappuis* 1955-1967
Created by: CemeteryRose (47195666)
Added: 5 Aug 2016
URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167797044/bella-abramson
Citation: Find A Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 15 May 2018), memorial page for Bella Nickerson Abramson (11 Nov 1916?29 May 2005), Find A Grave Memorial no. 167797044, citing Calvary Cemetery, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, USA ; Maintained by CemeteryRose (contributor 47195666) .
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1916 - 2005 (88 years)
