Hazel Ebarb

A visitation for Hazel Ebarb will be held on Sunday, March 10, 2024, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 6:15 p.m. located at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Drive in Shreveport. Funeral services honoring her life will be held on Monday, March 11, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. located at St. Mary of the Pines, 1050 W Bert Kouns Industrial Loop in Shreveport. Officiating the service will be Very Rev. Monsignor Rothell Price and Very Rev. Mark Watson. Interment will be held at St. Anne’s Cemetery, LA-482, Noble, LA 71462. Officiating the graveside service will be Rev. Tim Hurd. Honoring Hazel as pallbearers will be Cody Martin, Chris Logan, Thomas Raney, Mitch Vetkoetter, Ronnie Garcia, and Bob Kershaw. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Jason L. Ebarb Sr., Jason Ebarb, Jr., Eli Ebarb, Simon Leone, and Mike Vetkoetter.

Hazel was born on July 31, 1932, in Zwolle, Louisiana to parents, Sam and Elva Garcie. As a young child growing up, she learned how to cook as early as 8 years old. Often, she would have to stay home from school to help her mother with her siblings. On days that she could go to school she made the most of it, always being a straight “A” student. In high school she was one of the top students in her class and she was awarded scholarships, with dreams of becoming a school teacher. During her senior year she played basketball for Ebarb High School. That same year she met her one true love, J.D. Ebarb, whom she was hesitate to go on a date with and she had to bring her older brother James along. Hazel and J.D. were married August 11, 1951, and a year later on July 17, 1952 their first and only child Dale Winn was born. J.D. was stationed around the world during his service in the Air Force. They lived in New Mexico and the Philippines. They returned to the states, settled down, and retired in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Hazel was a woman of God and loved praying the rosary. She was a devoted Catholic, and for many years was a member of St. Catherine’s of Shreveport and St. Mary of the Pines. She was a Catechism teacher; she was also an active member of the Catholic Daughters. In church she was a Eucharistic minister and would often travel to nursing homes, and homes of the sick and disabled to help them receive communion. On Sundays she felt honored to have the role being a lector, carrying the book of gospels and reading the word of the Lord.  She had an unwavering devotion to her faith, family, and friends. If anyone needed prayers for someone, you could always call her and she would immediately start a rosary and call upon a chain command of prayer warriors to lift up anyone in need. She believed in the power of prayer; she would bless you from head to toe in holy water to make sure you were covered. Hazel was blessed to go on the trip of a lifetime to Jerusalem “The Holy Land”, a trip she was so excited to experience with family and friends on April 19, 2013. She enjoyed family get-togethers. She was known as an amazing cook that made everything from scratch. She spent a lot of time in the kitchen preparing big meals. She was known for her famous coconut cake. Her family and friends could call her and say they wanted collard greens and cornbread, chicken and rice, or chicken and dumplings, any type of meal you loved she would make it. No one left her residence hungry, feeding someone and praying for them was her love language.   Hazel was such a family person; she devoted her love and time to help raise her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and loved spending time with her great-great grandchildren.

“Nana” as her family called her to others “Hazel”, or “Aunt Hazel” was truly the definition of an angel here on earth. She had such a big heart, and you could always feel that love in her smile, her hugs, her prayers, or her warm meals. Nana was the matriarch of our family, our true leader of faith, love and kindness. To have had her in our lives all these years was truly a blessing. She would always tell you to “Sleep with the Angels” and on March 4, 2024, she slept and then flew away with the angels to her eternal home, where she is reunited with all our loved ones. Nana would always say “Trust in God in all things” we trust in him to know we will see her again.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, Sam and Elva Garcie; husband, J.D. Ebarb; son, Dale Winn Ebarb; brothers, James Garcia, Allen Garcie, Donald Garcie, Ronald Garcie, Joseph (Sammy) Garcie; sister, Syble (Sibby) Garcie; great-great granddaughter, Kassidi Jade Ebarb. Left to cherish her memory include her brothers, Samuel (Pete) Garcie and Herman Garcie (Ella); sister, Joyce Leone (Simon); granddaughter, Joely Vetkoetter (Mike); grandson, Jason L. Ebarb, Sr. (Amy); great-grandsons, Jason L. Ebarb, Jr. (Alyssa) and Eli Ebarb, great-granddaughters, Jordan Ebarb (Cody), Sarah Ebarb (Thomas), Skylar Logan (Chris) and Mia Ebarb; great-great grandchildren, Nolan Ebarb, Tristin Martin, Addison Logan, and twins Avari and Emeri Ebarb; along with numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren.

The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to Cheryl Dyess, LPN, Barbara, RN (Nightingale Hospice), Carol Cason, RN Intensive Specialty Hospital, Dr. David Abdehou and Donna Malmay Feliciano, RN, Debra Garcie McDonald and Alyssa Mercier for taking care of her at home with love and compassion.