Dec. 31, 1929-Dec. 28, 2021
Ruth Kerry Rachal passed away Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, three days short of her 92nd birthday. She was born Dec. 31, 1929, in New Orleans to Thad and Melissa (Vallery) Kerry and raised in Derry.
The oldest of eight children, she served as a second mother to all her siblings.
Ruth was preceded in death by her husband, John “Tick” Rachal, and son-in-law, Francis “Tiger” Roussell. She is survived by her daughters, Betty Ruth Rachal Roussell and Glenda Rachal. Ruth was known as MoMo to her grandchildren upon whom she doted, Stacey Roussell, Chris Roussell (Alison) and Reagan Roussell (Stacey). It was her special privilege to become a great-grandmother to Caroline Landry, Meredith Landry, John Hunt Roussell, Lily Roussell and Cade Roussell.
Ruth lived in the Greater New Orleans area most of her adult life after spending so many years moving throughout the south in the early years of her marriage for John’s work. Ruth’s heart was always yearning for the pine tree covered hills where she was raised in Derry on the edge of Kisatchie National Forest.
She will be remembered for her love of family gatherings and her excellent cooking (especially flat biscuits, mashed potatoes made with an entire stick of butter and Crisco fried chicken pieces that she cut in such a way that each piece seemed to be both dark and white meat at the same time).
Saying that she loved to talk on the phone and share good gossip would be an understatement. She was quick to laugh, most especially at herself like the time she described a news story about someone walking down the street “very, very nude.” We all wondered aloud what the difference between “nude” and “very, very nude” might be – to which she bent over howling and crying in laughter.
Ruth was devoted to praying to St. Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, attended mass as frequently as she could when healthy and clung to her rosary with a tight grip during times of stress and anxiety.
A funeral is being planned at Emmanuel Catholic Church in Chopin Friday, Jan. 14 at 11 a.m. with burial in Emmanuel’s cemetery immediately following. Family friend, Fr. Louis Sklar will preside.
Donations in her memory to St. Michael’s Special School at 1522 Chippewa St., New Orleans, LA 70130 would be most appreciated.
