Donatile ‘Dorothy’ Handy

Published 1:45 pm Wednesday, August 27, 2014

ST. MARTINVILLE — Funeral services for Donatile “Dorothy” Handy will be held at Notre Dame Catholic Church on Wednesday, August 27, 2014, at 11 a.m. Father Stanley Jawa will officiate. Viewing will take place at Golden Meadows Funeral Home, St. Martinville on Tuesday, August 26, 2014, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. and August 27, 2014, from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Interment will be in the Queen of Peace Cemetery.

A native of St. Martinville, Donatile “Dorothy” was born on January 4, 1916, in St. Martinville, to the late Margaret Savoy Davis and Valaire Davis. She was also known by her friends and family as Doughnot, Mom Handy and endearly by her grandchildren, Mawmaw.

She was united in Holy Matrimony to Joseph Percy. She was a parishioner of Notre Dame all her adult life and she reared her children in the church. She worked at Billiard’s canning potatoes, Pat’s Restaurant in Henderson and was a crawfish peeler at various plants in Catahoula. She sewed clothing and made quilts for her children and people who wanted and she made pecan candies, pies and popcorn balls to sell and to give. She loved people and enjoyed doing things for people asking for nothing in return. She was an avid bread maker and fed the entire neighborhood. And when she brought the bread, you could expect canned pumpkin, pears or peaches to go with it. She enjoyed gardening — planting tomatoes, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, mustard green, corn, bell peppers, green onions and parsley; you name it, she grew it. She maintained her peach and fig trees, which she used for canning fruit and had orange and tangerine trees as well. She enjoyed playing bingo and cards. Everyone will remember her for the things she did and let’s not forget, by the hats she wore. She had hats for summer, winter, spring and fall — in all colors and all styles. I guess you can say she had her own fashion statement.

Dorothy is survived by her children Joseph Majay Handy (Francis), Paul Aldon Handy (Mary Carol), Lorena Marie Handy-Francois (Allen) and Freddie Joseph Handy (Linda); her grandchildren Charlotte Handy, Lameka Broussard Simon, Shaun Joseph, Yolanza Handy, Paula Handy, Tammy Handy, Jeremy Francois, Kristopher Francois, Kristina Francois, Freddie Handy Jr., and Dorothy Handy; 21 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Dorothy was the last survivor of her siblings. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Percy Handy; one daughter Rita Handy; two sons Ulysses and Alfred Handy; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Valaire Davis; three brothers Sostene, Bernard and Joseph; four sisters Una Robertson, Lillian Davis, Bernadette Wiltz and Margaret Alexander; two grandchildren Matthew Brown and Joshua Paul Francois and one goddaughter Millie Wiltz.

Pallbearers will be Majay Handy, Paul Handy, Freddie Handy Sr., Jeremy François, Freddie Handy Jr. and Kristopher François.

Golden Meadows Funeral Home, 324 West Bridge Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582, 394-1146, is in charge of the arrangements.