Sister Marlene Labbé, MSC

Sr. Anna Marlene Labbé, MSC was born October 23, 1938 in Lewisburg, LA.  She died at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing on September 6, 2023.

Sr. Marlene was preceded in death by her father, Dallas Labbé and her mother, Lena Boudreaux Labbé, her brother, Ludrick Labbé; sisters-in-law, Helen Fontenot Labbé and Lorraine Champagne Labbé; and nephew, Louis Labbé.

She is survived by Leon & Lou Labbé; Gerard and Lisa Labbé; Marshall Labbé; Rodrick and Wanda Labbé; sister-in-law, Brenda Labbé; as well as her nieces, nephews, and their families.

Sister entered the Congregation of the Marianites of Holy Cross on September 8, 1956 and pronounced her perpetual vows on August 14, 1961.  She received her college education from Our Lady of Holy Cross College (now University of Holy Cross) in New Orleans, a Masters of Education in Guidance and Counseling from Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas, Certification in Spiritual Direction from the Washington Theological Union in Washington, DC., Certification in Religious Formation from the Institute for Religious Formation in St. Louis, MO.

Sister Marlene’s ministries touched many forms of education and spiritual formation including elementary and high school administration and education.  She served as administrator, counselor, or teacher in schools in Louisiana including St. Margaret and Immaculate Conception in Lake Charles; Sacred Heart in Ville Plate; Resurrection and St. Mary of the Angels in New Orleans, AIC (now Opelousas Catholic) in Opelousas.

Her openness to responding to varied needs led her to assist her father with the care of her mother who had ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).  Following this time of family service, she was the Director of Spiritual Development in Sacred Heart Parish in Broussard, LA.  She then served as parish religion coordinator at St. Robert’s in Arabi, LA; as formation director for the Marianites; as spiritual director for the Upper Room in Neptune, NJ; as a staff member at the Vincentian Renewal Center in Princeton, NJ; as a staff member for the Haitian Education Center in Trenton, NJ; as coordinator of vocation ministry for the Marianites; as director of spiritual development for St. Anthony Parish in Eunice LA.  For many years she was a spiritual director and retreat guide at the Jesuit Spirituality Center in Grand Coteau, LA.  In 2011, she moved to Opelousas and continued her retreat and spiritual direction ministries.  Due to declining health, she was admitted to Prompt Succor Nursing Home on July 24, 2017.  As a resident, she brought her compassionate, listening presence to the other residents by her time and attention to them.

One of the goals Sr. Marlene had established for herself was “to utilize my gifts and skills in education and spirituality to provide opportunities for others to grow in a holistic way.”  Though she had personal health struggles for many years, she remained faithful to her goal through her varied ministries.  As a testament to her fidelity, a friend wrote: “Thank you so much for your letter and words of encouragement.  You were always a strong Catholic role model in my life.  Your faithfulness was part of the journey that led me to become Catholic!” 

Thank you, Sr. Marlene, for touching hearts and changing lives by your faithful living of the Word in and through your life!  Pray for us that we, too, will be faithful!

To celebrate her life, a wake service was held on September 11, 2023 from 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM in the chapel at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home.  Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated at 10:00 AM in the chapel.  Fr. Donovan Labbé, nephew of Sr. Marlene, presided at the liturgy.  Burial followed in St. Landry Cemetery in Opelousas.  We want to express profound gratitude to the staff of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Nursing Home for their consistent caring and compassionate presence to Sr. Marlene.  We also want to thank the staff of Traditions Hospice for their expertise and support in the last days of her life.