Born in Bayou Jack, Louisiana in Avoyelles Parish, Dorothy Marie, "Dot", was the only child of her Cajun, French-speaking parents. The family owned a small, local grocery store and lived in the back. Eventually, they learned to speak English, rather than their native Cajun French, from the Engish-speaking lessons Dot was forced to learn at school.
In 1940, eight year-old Dot traveled with her parents to Maringouin, Louisiana where they established the town's main grocery store and soon built a large, two-story home on the bayou.
When Dot was just a young girl, she fell in love. The older teenager, Riley Prestenback, her father had hired to help at the store caught her eye. Though only nine or ten at the time, Dorothy swore he was the man she was going to marry.
On June 25, 1950, a little girl's dream came true, and Dorothy and Riley were wed in a lavish wedding that included a huge reception in the newly built, larger store which is now Maringouin's Town Hall. Riley became joint owner in the store, which was now Beauvais & Prestenback's, and, later, IGA.
Dot, a strong, smart, and determined woman, put herself through beauty school and was able to open her own beauty parlor in her home so that she had her own money to spend. Though she loved nice things and shopping, most of her money was spent on her beloved children, Keith and Pam.
Dot left this world too soon, at the age of 66, due to heart failure; a complication from the Scleroderma she had suffered with for the preceding ten years. Her absence has left an irreparable hole in the fabric of her family and not a day goes by that we do not think of her and wish she was still with us.
There is no one left of the small threesome that was the Beauvais family: Dorothy was preceded in death by her father, Horace Beauvais (1908-1989), and followed shortly after by her mother, Melina Nugent Beauvais (1905-1999). They were always so very close; those of us left behind like to think of them all together again.
Dot will be remembered by all of her friends and family as a passionate, fiery, yet warm-hearted woman who charged forward relentlessly, no matter the obstacles life put in her way.
In 1940, eight year-old Dot traveled with her parents to Maringouin, Louisiana where they established the town's main grocery store and soon built a large, two-story home on the bayou.
When Dot was just a young girl, she fell in love. The older teenager, Riley Prestenback, her father had hired to help at the store caught her eye. Though only nine or ten at the time, Dorothy swore he was the man she was going to marry.
On June 25, 1950, a little girl's dream came true, and Dorothy and Riley were wed in a lavish wedding that included a huge reception in the newly built, larger store which is now Maringouin's Town Hall. Riley became joint owner in the store, which was now Beauvais & Prestenback's, and, later, IGA.
Dot, a strong, smart, and determined woman, put herself through beauty school and was able to open her own beauty parlor in her home so that she had her own money to spend. Though she loved nice things and shopping, most of her money was spent on her beloved children, Keith and Pam.
Dot left this world too soon, at the age of 66, due to heart failure; a complication from the Scleroderma she had suffered with for the preceding ten years. Her absence has left an irreparable hole in the fabric of her family and not a day goes by that we do not think of her and wish she was still with us.
There is no one left of the small threesome that was the Beauvais family: Dorothy was preceded in death by her father, Horace Beauvais (1908-1989), and followed shortly after by her mother, Melina Nugent Beauvais (1905-1999). They were always so very close; those of us left behind like to think of them all together again.
Dot will be remembered by all of her friends and family as a passionate, fiery, yet warm-hearted woman who charged forward relentlessly, no matter the obstacles life put in her way.
Born in Bayou Jack, Louisiana in Avoyelles Parish, Dorothy Marie, "Dot", was the only child of her Cajun, French-speaking parents. The family owned a small, local grocery store and lived in the back. Eventually, they learned to speak English, rather than their native Cajun French, from the Engish-speaking lessons Dot was forced to learn at school.
In 1940, eight year-old Dot traveled with her parents to Maringouin, Louisiana where they established the town's main grocery store and soon built a large, two-story home on the bayou.
When Dot was just a young girl, she fell in love. The older teenager, Riley Prestenback, her father had hired to help at the store caught her eye. Though only nine or ten at the time, Dorothy swore he was the man she was going to marry.
On June 25, 1950, a little girl's dream came true, and Dorothy and Riley were wed in a lavish wedding that included a huge reception in the newly built, larger store which is now Maringouin's Town Hall. Riley became joint owner in the store, which was now Beauvais & Prestenback's, and, later, IGA.
Dot, a strong, smart, and determined woman, put herself through beauty school and was able to open her own beauty parlor in her home so that she had her own money to spend. Though she loved nice things and shopping, most of her money was spent on her beloved children, Keith and Pam.
Dot left this world too soon, at the age of 66, due to heart failure; a complication from the Scleroderma she had suffered with for the preceding ten years. Her absence has left an irreparable hole in the fabric of her family and not a day goes by that we do not think of her and wish she was still with us.
There is no one left of the small threesome that was the Beauvais family: Dorothy was preceded in death by her father, Horace Beauvais (1908-1989), and followed shortly after by her mother, Melina Nugent Beauvais (1905-1999). They were always so very close; those of us left behind like to think of them all together again.
Dot will be remembered by all of her friends and family as a passionate, fiery, yet warm-hearted woman who charged forward relentlessly, no matter the obstacles life put in her way.
In 1940, eight year-old Dot traveled with her parents to Maringouin, Louisiana where they established the town's main grocery store and soon built a large, two-story home on the bayou.
When Dot was just a young girl, she fell in love. The older teenager, Riley Prestenback, her father had hired to help at the store caught her eye. Though only nine or ten at the time, Dorothy swore he was the man she was going to marry.
On June 25, 1950, a little girl's dream came true, and Dorothy and Riley were wed in a lavish wedding that included a huge reception in the newly built, larger store which is now Maringouin's Town Hall. Riley became joint owner in the store, which was now Beauvais & Prestenback's, and, later, IGA.
Dot, a strong, smart, and determined woman, put herself through beauty school and was able to open her own beauty parlor in her home so that she had her own money to spend. Though she loved nice things and shopping, most of her money was spent on her beloved children, Keith and Pam.
Dot left this world too soon, at the age of 66, due to heart failure; a complication from the Scleroderma she had suffered with for the preceding ten years. Her absence has left an irreparable hole in the fabric of her family and not a day goes by that we do not think of her and wish she was still with us.
There is no one left of the small threesome that was the Beauvais family: Dorothy was preceded in death by her father, Horace Beauvais (1908-1989), and followed shortly after by her mother, Melina Nugent Beauvais (1905-1999). They were always so very close; those of us left behind like to think of them all together again.
Dot will be remembered by all of her friends and family as a passionate, fiery, yet warm-hearted woman who charged forward relentlessly, no matter the obstacles life put in her way.
Inscription
Loved Forever
Family Members
See more Prestenback or Beauvais memorials in:
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery Prestenback or Beauvais
- Maringouin Prestenback or Beauvais
- Iberville Parish Prestenback or Beauvais
- Louisiana Prestenback or Beauvais
- USA Prestenback or Beauvais
- Find a Grave Prestenback or Beauvais
