Louise Ribardo

Louise Ribardo, 84, of Bryan, passed away Monday evening at her residence. The family will receive visitors from 6 until 8 pm., Wednesday November 30, 2011, at Callaway-Jones Funeral Home in Bryan, with the Rosary to be recited at 7 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held at 2 pm. on Thursday December 1, 2011, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Bryan, with Father Patrick Ebner officiating. Entombment will follow at Msgr. Gleissner Mausoleum at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Bryan.
Born to Albert and Annie Olexey in Benchley, Texas, Mom or Granny as her grandkids called her, was born in a very difficult era in our history. Times were very hard. Some meals consisted of only bread and “lard” but still the Lord provided. Water wells used for drinking water, were not always sanitary. A rope and bucket was used to haul water out of the well to another bucket with a dipper in it that everyone shared to drink out of. Sometimes even a dead frog was found in the “fresh” water. Mom, like many others contracted malaria from the water. When she got older, she would catch the train from Benchley to Bryan where she worked at the Woolworth store in downtown Bryan. She met Tony Ribardo (Daddy) and they soon became husband and wife. Mom saw many changes during her life time such as traveling from horse drawn wagons to the space age, no telephones to cell phones, ice boxes that actually held blocks of ice to electric refrigerators, and much more.
Mom loved going to church, eating out, and playing bingo with her dear friend Pauline Marino.
Never once did mom question the Lord as to why she had to endure her illness. She constantly talked of His goodness to anyone that was around her. Till she could speak no more, she continued to thank Him for helping her get through a day at a time, then a moment at a time.
She is preceded in death by her husband, her parents, many brothers and sisters, and a granddaughter, Amanda Upchurch.
She is survived by a sister and her husband, Rosalie and Thomas Wilson.
Mom had us two girls that provided her with five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Those of us left to continue with what God has laid out before us are: Children: Anna and Ernest Upchurch and Joyce Tipton. Surviving grandchildren are: Tona and Allen Walker, Howard and Michelle Tipton, Jessica and David Gilmore, and Sarah and Dustin O’Neal. Great-grandchildren are: Devynn and Ashlynn Walker, Corina, Joshua, Cecelia, Jericho, and Charlotte Tipton, Grace and Josie O’Neal, and Daegen Gilmore.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Thank you Lord for all the angels you sent to help us. You know who you are. We won’t mention names for fear of omitting one. You are greatly loved and will be sorely missed. Donations can be made to Hospice Brazos Valley.

Condolences

  1. Joyce,I am sorry for the loss of your mother. I remember going to the farm where my mom grew up and, yes, there was a metal bucket and dipper for water from the creek, no electricity, fresh milk from the cow, and a wood burning kitchen stove. It was cold in the entire house in winter except by the stove. My sympathy.

  2. Joyce, my thoughts and prayers have been with you for such a long time now but constantly in the last several days. What a beautiful person your mother was and that fact shines through in her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. If I can be of service to you or any of your family during this time, please let me know. Love you

    mj

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