Rachel Margaret Meche Hollier

Obituary
LEONVILLE ~ Funeral services will be held Monday, July 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Leonville for Rachel Hollier, age 50, the former Rachel Margaret Meche, who passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at her home in Arnaudville surrounded by her loving family.

Interment will be in St. Leo the Great Cemetery in Leonville. The Very Rev. Msgr. W. Curtis Mallet, JLC, VG will officiate at the services. Readers will be Avia Meche, Charlene Dupuis, and Melissa Hollier. Eulogies will be shared by Dawn Trahan and Monica Terrebonne.

Mrs. Hollier was a native of Leonville and a resident of Pecaniere. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Leonville. Rachel’s faith in God grew stronger every day of her life.
She was very organized and worked hard to accomplish her goals. She put her all into everything she did. She was an ambassador for the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce and developed many wonderful friendships and relationships during her 25-year career working in the finance industry.

Rachel was born on Christmas Eve – a time of giving. She especially loved that time of year because she could give even more of her heart of gold. She truly wished the best for everyone she met. Rachel was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother who cherished her family dearly. She loved spending time with them dining out, shopping, going on vacations, and she loved her swimming pool.

She had a special gift from God, her very presence was uplifting. She gave everyone a nickname and had a wonderful way of making everyone she met feel special. She maintained old fashioned values throughout her life. Rachel was kind, generous, and always willing to help where she could. She touched so many lives with her positive attitude and infectious smile and she will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

She leaves behind her husband of 32 years, Brent Hollier of Pecaniere; her beloved children, Kaylee Lewellyn and her husband, Eli, of Youngsville and Brock Hollier of Lafayette; her precious grandchildren, James Thomas and Ruth Jael Lewellyn “Jamesy & Rupie”; her parents, Leo and Judy Meche; her siblings, Kenneth Meche and his wife, Avia, of Leonville and Rowdy Meche and his wife, Tonya, of Crystal Springs, MS; her mother-in-law, Flo Hollier; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Mark and Shinnette Hollier, Michael and Melissa Hollier, Brett and Charlene Dupuis, and Spencer and Rebecca Cornette; and her nieces and nephews, Lainey Hebert, Jonah Meche, Braeden Hollier, Kirstie Robin, Maci Hollier, Mikayla Gaspard, Dustin Hollier, and Brodie Dupuis.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Willie and Clemie Meche; her maternal grandparents, Herman and Marguerite Dupuis; and her father-in-law, Albert Hollier.

A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sunday and will continue from 7:00 a.m. until service time on Monday.

Pallbearers will be Brock Hollier, Kenneth Meche, Rowdy Meche, Eli Lewellyn, Braeden Hollier, and Dustin Hollier. Honorary pallbearers will be James Thomas Lewellyn, Rachel’s Godfather, Bobby Dupuis, Brett Dupuis, Brodie Dupuis, Jonah Meche, Spencer Cornette, Garrett Dupuis, Derek Gaspard, Brady Hebert, Kaleb Robin, Alex Lanclos, and Seth Dupuis.

Rachel requested that her story be shared with her loved ones:

Thank you to my mom and dad for having me, and to my God-given husband, Brent, that God handpicked for me and has always been by my side, I love you. Our beautiful daughter, Kaylee, that God gave you and I, whom gave us our “littles” with her amazing husband, Eli. And our lovely son, Brock, that God gave to you and I. Brock, keep searching for the gold to your heart and you will find her one day – just trust in God.
My remarkable family, Rowdy, you were my hero. You never needed a sound to hear or a word to speak because God allowed you to give me one day more of life I may have never had – thank you. I love you and Ken. Anna and Leon Thomas, you are family to me and I love you.

To the people who prayed for me, every prayer was heard. To the community in our little hometown – the most genuine people I could have ever met or come from, thank you.

When I first found out about my terrible disease, I cried, Brent cried, and we held each other tight. He looked at me and said “This is God’s will for you. Will you accept it or hand it back?” He even said, “If I could trade places with you, I would.” That is true love. From that moment I knew my journey was going to be “His will” and in His way. I only needed to trust and believe in God.

After battling in New Orleans for 2 years, I had to transition to M.D. Anderson in Houston, and a Jewish organization opened the door and welcomed me in as Rabbi’s sister. I knew God led me to this place. I met some amazing people along the way. From superior minds to lonely hearts and everything in between. I loved listening to the stories of their lives. From Australians to South Americans from Trinidad, to Asians to a Vietnamese nurse, who was in her mother’s womb when she swam across a river for refuge.

God created this journey for me to always look within a person and see the good that He created in everyone’s life. It was so beautiful to be on this journey with Him, trusting Him, and allowing Him to carry me, while directing my paths.
A special thank you, or a warm thank you, to Dr. C. DiNardo, Dr. E. Shpall, Dr. Abbas, Dr. Garcia Manero, and their medical teams at M.D. Anderson; to Dr. Dalovisio, Ruby Varkley, and medical team at Ochsner; to Dr. Prouet and medical team at the Cancer Center in Lafayette; also to Tim and Mary Champagne Woody; and to all the greeters, medical assistant nurses, CNAs, and the room service food deliveries; and to my inspiration, Lisa Meche, my dear friend.

My God, I love You above all things. Thank You for the blessed life You created for me. And when anyone looks at another person, always remember that you are looking at God’s creation.

Brent, I love you. Kaylee and Eli, I love you. Brock, I love you. My littles, James and Ruth, when you get older and you feel something in your heart, it’s Gigi’s love.

Amen. Rachel. Rach. Gigi.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sunday and will continue from 7:00 a.m. until service time on Monday.

Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas, 4708 I-49 North Service Road, (337) 407-1907, is in charge of arrangements.

Obituary
LEONVILLE ~ Funeral services will be held Monday, July 11, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Leonville for Rachel Hollier, age 50, the former Rachel Margaret Meche, who passed away Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at her home in Arnaudville surrounded by her loving family.

Interment will be in St. Leo the Great Cemetery in Leonville. The Very Rev. Msgr. W. Curtis Mallet, JLC, VG will officiate at the services. Readers will be Avia Meche, Charlene Dupuis, and Melissa Hollier. Eulogies will be shared by Dawn Trahan and Monica Terrebonne.

Mrs. Hollier was a native of Leonville and a resident of Pecaniere. She was a longtime parishioner of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Leonville. Rachel’s faith in God grew stronger every day of her life.
She was very organized and worked hard to accomplish her goals. She put her all into everything she did. She was an ambassador for the St. Landry Chamber of Commerce and developed many wonderful friendships and relationships during her 25-year career working in the finance industry.

Rachel was born on Christmas Eve – a time of giving. She especially loved that time of year because she could give even more of her heart of gold. She truly wished the best for everyone she met. Rachel was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother who cherished her family dearly. She loved spending time with them dining out, shopping, going on vacations, and she loved her swimming pool.

She had a special gift from God, her very presence was uplifting. She gave everyone a nickname and had a wonderful way of making everyone she met feel special. She maintained old fashioned values throughout her life. Rachel was kind, generous, and always willing to help where she could. She touched so many lives with her positive attitude and infectious smile and she will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

She leaves behind her husband of 32 years, Brent Hollier of Pecaniere; her beloved children, Kaylee Lewellyn and her husband, Eli, of Youngsville and Brock Hollier of Lafayette; her precious grandchildren, James Thomas and Ruth Jael Lewellyn “Jamesy & Rupie”; her parents, Leo and Judy Meche; her siblings, Kenneth Meche and his wife, Avia, of Leonville and Rowdy Meche and his wife, Tonya, of Crystal Springs, MS; her mother-in-law, Flo Hollier; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Mark and Shinnette Hollier, Michael and Melissa Hollier, Brett and Charlene Dupuis, and Spencer and Rebecca Cornette; and her nieces and nephews, Lainey Hebert, Jonah Meche, Braeden Hollier, Kirstie Robin, Maci Hollier, Mikayla Gaspard, Dustin Hollier, and Brodie Dupuis.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Willie and Clemie Meche; her maternal grandparents, Herman and Marguerite Dupuis; and her father-in-law, Albert Hollier.

A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sunday and will continue from 7:00 a.m. until service time on Monday.

Pallbearers will be Brock Hollier, Kenneth Meche, Rowdy Meche, Eli Lewellyn, Braeden Hollier, and Dustin Hollier. Honorary pallbearers will be James Thomas Lewellyn, Rachel’s Godfather, Bobby Dupuis, Brett Dupuis, Brodie Dupuis, Jonah Meche, Spencer Cornette, Garrett Dupuis, Derek Gaspard, Brady Hebert, Kaleb Robin, Alex Lanclos, and Seth Dupuis.

Rachel requested that her story be shared with her loved ones:

Thank you to my mom and dad for having me, and to my God-given husband, Brent, that God handpicked for me and has always been by my side, I love you. Our beautiful daughter, Kaylee, that God gave you and I, whom gave us our “littles” with her amazing husband, Eli. And our lovely son, Brock, that God gave to you and I. Brock, keep searching for the gold to your heart and you will find her one day – just trust in God.
My remarkable family, Rowdy, you were my hero. You never needed a sound to hear or a word to speak because God allowed you to give me one day more of life I may have never had – thank you. I love you and Ken. Anna and Leon Thomas, you are family to me and I love you.

To the people who prayed for me, every prayer was heard. To the community in our little hometown – the most genuine people I could have ever met or come from, thank you.

When I first found out about my terrible disease, I cried, Brent cried, and we held each other tight. He looked at me and said “This is God’s will for you. Will you accept it or hand it back?” He even said, “If I could trade places with you, I would.” That is true love. From that moment I knew my journey was going to be “His will” and in His way. I only needed to trust and believe in God.

After battling in New Orleans for 2 years, I had to transition to M.D. Anderson in Houston, and a Jewish organization opened the door and welcomed me in as Rabbi’s sister. I knew God led me to this place. I met some amazing people along the way. From superior minds to lonely hearts and everything in between. I loved listening to the stories of their lives. From Australians to South Americans from Trinidad, to Asians to a Vietnamese nurse, who was in her mother’s womb when she swam across a river for refuge.

God created this journey for me to always look within a person and see the good that He created in everyone’s life. It was so beautiful to be on this journey with Him, trusting Him, and allowing Him to carry me, while directing my paths.
A special thank you, or a warm thank you, to Dr. C. DiNardo, Dr. E. Shpall, Dr. Abbas, Dr. Garcia Manero, and their medical teams at M.D. Anderson; to Dr. Dalovisio, Ruby Varkley, and medical team at Ochsner; to Dr. Prouet and medical team at the Cancer Center in Lafayette; also to Tim and Mary Champagne Woody; and to all the greeters, medical assistant nurses, CNAs, and the room service food deliveries; and to my inspiration, Lisa Meche, my dear friend.

My God, I love You above all things. Thank You for the blessed life You created for me. And when anyone looks at another person, always remember that you are looking at God’s creation.

Brent, I love you. Kaylee and Eli, I love you. Brock, I love you. My littles, James and Ruth, when you get older and you feel something in your heart, it’s Gigi’s love.

Amen. Rachel. Rach. Gigi.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sunday and will continue from 7:00 a.m. until service time on Monday.

Melancon Funeral Home of Opelousas, 4708 I-49 North Service Road, (337) 407-1907, is in charge of arrangements.