Rose Clark England

A limb has fallen from the family tree. I keep hearing a voice that say grieve not for me. Remember the best times, the laughter, the zydeco songs, the love, and the good food we enjoyed while I was strong. Aunt Rose, I will keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through. I know that your mind and soul are now at rest. I was really blessed to have a sweet and loving aunt like you. I promise to continue the tradition of keeping the family together. I will go on with life and live with great anticipation of the day when we all will be together once again in our heavenly home.”
The touching funeral program sentiment, which was signed. “Love Sis,” in essence eulogized Rose Clark Egland, aka “Aunt Rose,” who lived a full and rich life while earning a “Well done my good and faithful servant” performance rating, before God called her home. For sure, there was a preponderance of evidence that suggests that “Aunt Rose” learned life’s greatest lesson, which is to love and be loved in return, when her long and fruitful life was celebrated at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church, 4000 Sumpter, on May 8, 2004. Michael Stevenson, Fr. Walter A. Cerbin, Francis Rasberry, Latasha Cormier, Cynthia L. Leftwich, Shelly Gilbert Spikes, Betty Cormier and Javoke Terrell participated in the order of service. Active pallbearers were: Joseph Lemon Jr., Harold Lynn Gilbert Sr., Phillip Leftwich, Darrell Whittington, Thello X. Lemon and George Gilbert.
Joseph Lemon Sr., Whitney Livings, Mathew Clark, Javoke S. Terrell, Jimmy Gilbert and Donald Gilbert were honorary pallbearers for “Aunt Rose,” who was born to Joseph Clark and Mary Clark Gilbert in Leonville, Louisiana on May 12, 1919. Leonville is a small hamlet, that’s located in St. Landry Parish within the Cajun Country Region, between Opelousas and Breaux Bridge along Highway 31 near Grand Coteau, Sunset, and Arnaudville. Rose and her sister Evelina lost their parents as children and were raised by family members. Her paternal uncle and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Willie B. Green, raised Rose. Often, Rose would visit her sister, Evelina, at the home of their maternal uncle and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Gilbert. Rose and Evelina were raised with their first cousins as brothers and sisters.
To this day, many think they had three brothers: Stange Gilbert, Jimmy Gilbert, and George Gilbert; five sisters: Julia Sion, Ella Mae Lee, Hilda Whittington, Mary Della Winfrey, and Audrey Zachary. Rose accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age.
She was baptized at St. Leo Catholic Church in Leonville, where she also attended school. Rose was united in holy matrimony with Beverly Egland, affectionately called Peter. There were no children born to this union. Rose took her nieces and nephews as her children and loved them as her own. In the late 40's Rose moved to Beaumont, Texas where she and her husband managed a senior living facility for a few years. Later, Rose and Peter moved to the Winnie/Stowell area of Texas where they would live out the rest of their days.
Winnie, Texas is an oasis between the metropolitan areas of Houston, Galveston, and Beaumont/ Port Arthur. As you drive beyond the towering sky scenes of Houston or the refinery specked horizons of the Golden Triangle, Winnie rises from the horizon amidst rice fields and cattle. Winnie, an unincorporated town, is situated at the intersection of I-124, 73 and 10, making the town an ideal location for industrial and business development, with easy access for distribution to many cities. Travelers to Galveston and the Bolivar Peninsula often stop in Winnie, that’s only 15 minutes from the coast on their way to the beach. Rose also worked for the Deet Family for many years. Rose remained a faithful and dedicated wife to Peter until his passing. After the death of her husband, Rose continued to live, work, and worship in Winnie. Rose was a faithful member of the St. Louis Catholic Church.
Rose was also an active member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Over her life, you could find Rose either in Beaumont, Texas visiting with her siblings and their children or in Houston, Texas visiting with her sister, Evelina and her children. Aunt Rose loved zydeco music, good food, and family. Aunt Rose is survived by one brother-in-law, Mr. Curly Egland; a devoted niece, Mary E. Lemon-Terrell; special nephew, Joseph A. Lemon, Sr.; a special sister-in-law, Rita Gilbert; her cousins whom she was raised with as her brothers and sisters and their spouses; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.