Tributes

Pierrette (Fluet) Riou, beloved mother, 91, went to be with our Lord on December 1, 2019. Born in Québec, Canada, Pierrette grew up on the family dairy farm as the eldest of nine children. After discerning whether she had a religious vocation, she taught in Catholic schools in Québec as a lay teacher. She and her good friend, Rhéa became pen pals with Jean and Joseph Riou, respectively, who had immigrated to San Antonio from France. After a year of exchanging letters, and a good report from a priest they knew (Curé Hudon, who had recently met the two brothers during a trip to Texas), Pierrette and Rhéa traveled by bus to meet their pen pals in San Antonio. During that visit, Jean and Pierrette became engaged, as did Joseph and Rhéa. Three months later the two couples were married in a double wedding ceremony and returned by train to San Antonio. They made their first homes on the grounds of Mount Sacred Heart (where John and Joseph were employed), and both couples were soon blessed with children. Pierrette later earned a degree from UTSA and taught in Catholic and public elementary schools for many years until retiring, prior to Jean’s passing in 2006. She enjoyed time with family and friends, traveling, camping, art, sewing and gardening, and was an active parishioner at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, including the Altar Society, children’s liturgy, and eucharistic adoration. In her later years, she made new friends at The Village at Incarnate Word where she resided for two years, first in independent living and then in assisted living and, after a hospitalization, at St. Francis Nursing Home, where she joined Rhéa, who had already been living there for a month or two. Pierrette resided at St. Francis Nursing Home for nearly four years, until her passing. At both The Village at Incarnate Word and St. Francis Nursing Home, Pierrette was blessed to have access to the Sacraments, including daily Mass. Those who preceded Pierrette in death include infant children Maryvonne, Daniel, and Marie-Claude, parents Alfred & Antoinette, siblings Raymond, Denise, Jean-Claude, and Émilien, and in-laws Raymond Dubé, Joseph & Rhéa Riou, and Pierre & Marie Riou. She is survived by sons Pierre and Charles, siblings (and spouses) Gérard (Yvette Desjardins), Andrée Dubé, Micheline (Louis Desmeules) and Gilles, and many dear nephews, nieces, and friends. Pierrette’s sons wish to thank all of the loving family, friends, neighbors, clergy and religious who were a blessing to Pierrette over her long and joyful life as well as her doctors and dentists and their staffs, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and staff at The Village at Incarnate Word, and the Seraphic Franciscan Sisters OLS and staff at St. Francis Nursing Home, for the compassion and excellent care that they all provided to her. Visitation begins at 5 PM, with Rosary recitation at 7 PM, Sunday December 15 at Mission Park Funeral Chapels North, 3401 Cherry Ridge Drive, San Antonio. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 AM Monday, December 16 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 758 Ramsey, San Antonio. Interment will follow at San Fernando Cemetery II, 746 Castroville Road, San Antonio. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St. Francis Nursing Home, The Village at Incarnate Word, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, The Parkinson’s Foundation, or the charity of your choice.

Tributes

Pierrette (Fluet) Riou

January 26, 1928 - December 1, 2019