Robena Verzwyvelt (Rister) - Obituary

Homecoming celebration for Mrs. Robena "Bena" Rister Verzwyvelt was held at Rita Catholic Church, Alexandria with Father Craig Scott and Reverend Jimmy Koonce officiating.
Burial: Alexandria Memorial Gardens
Viewing/Wake: Hixson Brothers, Alexandria
Officiating: Msgr. Joseph M. Susi officiating.
Mrs. Verzwyvelt was 93 years old and lived in Alexandria
Birth: November 27, 1911 in Flatwoods, La ( near Mora)
At Rest: March 1, 2004 at Rapides Regional Medical Center.

Maw Maw was a homemaker and much more to anyone who came in contact with her. I remember most about her as being the family peace maker. She showed so much empathy for anyone that was having a problem without having one feel that she was on either side of a disagreement. She was former employee of Central State Hospital in Pineville. Remember her speaking of sewing while she worked there and also when Paw Paw and she were on the farm in the early parts of marriage. They would work all day and she would come in, clean, prepare dinner, and then make clothes by hand stitching only.
She enjoyed family visiting from the Flatwoods area, her grandchildren spending time working with them on the farm, and family holiday dinners with all the children and grandchildren. She could make the best gravy(from venison drippings) and have had none better. She was the only one who could get me to eat fried eggplant. She used no fancy recipes on any of her menus, just love.

Gone before her:
Husband: Henry P."Sonny Boy"Verzwyvelt
Memorial #59319764

Daughter: Eleanor V. Abercrombie
Memorial #97555884

Father: George James Rister
Memorial #21207375

Mother: Minnie Blackshire Rister
Memorial #21207384

Brother: Ova Rister
Memorial #21208233

Sister: Mildred R. Hayes

She is survived by her son, Jim Verzwyvelt of Alexandria; daughters, Patsy V. Franks of Alexandria and Rosemary V. Jackson of Forest Hill; her brothers, Wilber Rister of Kolin, Edgar Rister of Natchitoches and Andrew Rister of Flatwoods; eleven grandchildren; twenty-one great- grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.