A memorial service for Thelma Marie Erwin Rabalais, of Livingston, Texas will be held Saturday, November 18, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. at the Cochran Funeral Home Chapel in Livingston, Texas.

Thelma passed away peacefully at home on November 3, 2023 at the age of 88. She is preceded in death by her parents, Admiral Dewey Erwin and Leila Bell Howard Erwin; sisters, Vera, Eva, and Martha; brothers, Mason and A.D.; and grandson, Joseph Leif Armstrong.

She was a wonderful Daughter, Mother, Grandmother, Great grandmother, Aunt, and Cousin.  She loved all of us unconditionally and was always there for us anytime we needed her.  She also had many good friends throughout her life but the ones that she made on Wilson Lake were like family to her.  She loved living on the water and decided that is where she wanted to be, but it was only possible because they looked out for her when I couldn't be there bringing her mail, food, gifts, and picking her up when she fell.

Thelma was born on October 31, 1935 at home with the help of a midwife in Cory, Louisiana a tiny town that no longer exists.  Years later when she received a copy of her birth certificate it listed October 29th as her date of birth, but her mother and aunt's all insisted that she was born on Halloween.  Although the midwife mistakenly put her date of birth as the 29th making that her legal date of birth, she continued to celebrate her birthday on the 31st.

Thelma was not only beautiful but she was smart, she was named Valedictorian of her class at her high school graduation.  She was also talented and loved making crafts and flower arrangements.  Unlike most she was happiest when she was cleaning! Humming while she cleaned, gardened, and did yard work.  She was also a great cook, I would ask what are we having for supper and she would say Jambalaya, Crawfish Pie, and a File′ gumbo, laughing all the while.  She also loved to fish! We would go for the day and she would pack everything to cook our fish right on the bank, but she was always prepared and brought chicken to fry just in case they didn't bite!  She loved to laugh and would always say something funny to make you laugh.  Her smile lit up a room and her blue eyes shined.  She never met a stranger and was kind to everyone.  She was also a half glass filled kind of person even at the end when she felt bad, she would say "I'll be better tomorrow", well there are no more tomorrows for her on this earth, but as Jesus promised she will have everlasting life in Heaven with her precious mother and all of her loved ones that passed before her.  No more pain or suffering, only laughter and love.  We will miss her immensely, until we meet again.

She is survived by her daughter, Tammy Raymond and husband Victor of Austin, Texas; son, Joseph Armstrong of New Orleans, Louisiana; granddaughter, Dawn Buchanan and husband Henry of Austin, Texas; great granddaughters, Joleigh Armstrong, Magnolia Cordova, and Blayne Gillan; nieces, La Darla Dixon and Gloria Sue Spencer; nephews, Aaron Erwin, Darell Erwin, Salvador Conino, and David Ward; along with numerous great nieces, great nephews, other relatives and friends.