Orelia Marie White (Modeliste) peacefully passed away surrounded by her family at the age of 95. She was born April 14, 1928 to Zenon and Caroline Modeliste, one of twelve children born to their union. Orelia was raised in New Roads, Louisiana by Edna Duncan, affectionately known as “Mama Ed”. Orelia retired from Charity Hospital in New Orleans after three decades as a dietician supervisor in 1983. A devout Catholic, she regularly worshiped at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Orelia moved from New Orleans, Louisiana in 1998 to Centennial, Colorado with her daughter Flo and then on to Seattle, Washington in 2008, where she spent the remainder of her life enjoying her family, crocheting, traveling, and going to the casino.
Orelia was truly the beloved matriarch of her family. When you told her you’d see her later, her consistent response was, “if the Lord spare”. What a blessing to this world that she was spared for 95 glorious years before the good Lord called her home on July 7, 2023. She is survived by and will be lovingly remembered by her four daughters: Edna Poydras, Bernadette Poydras, Florence Day, and Malinda Jones; fifteen grandchildren; many great grandchildren as well as great-great grandchildren. She was proceeded in death by her granddaughter Malina Spears-Butler.
In celebration of Orelia’s life a funeral mass was held at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Renton, Washington.
