Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass Honors 71 couples

By Pamela Seal
Diocese of Lake Charles

There was never a doubt in Whitney Derise’s mind that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with his wife, Lois. “She is my everything. If I don’t see or hear her for a few minutes, I start whistling for her,” he said. “I have a fear of her not being there. We still say our prayers every night holding hands.”

The still-very-much-in-love couple will celebrate 75 years of marriage on October 9, 2026. Parishioners of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Lake Charles, and before that at Our Lady Queen of Heaven, the Derises were among 142 spouses honored during the 11:15 a.m. Mass on Sunday, June 14, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.

For a combined total of 3,475 years of marriage, 71 couples registered for the Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass and reception hosted by the Office of Marriage and Family Life. 

His Excellency, Bishop Glen John Provost blessed those marking jubilee anniversaries of 25, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 years in 2026.  

Concelebrating with the bishop was Rev. Justin Cormie from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, who is a grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Derise.

In congratulating all the couples, Bishop Provost expressed that celebrating the annual Diocesan Wedding Jubilee Mass is among the top five things he enjoys most about being a bishop.

“I am filled with a great deal of admiration for your perseverance and for your example you have given to us all,” he said in remarks to all the couples. “This is no easy task which you have accomplished in persevering in marriage through the ups and downs, which are numerous, sometimes daunting, and yet you persevered with God’s grace and with your own good efforts and prayers.” 

A Marriage Filled with
 Love and Laughter

Both 93 years old, Whitney is a month and 10 days older than Lois admitting that is the only time he gets to be the boss. He doesn’t seem to mind much since as long as she is by his side, life is just as it should be.

They can trace their journey back to their childhood days in Rayne where they both grew up on the same street with one house between them. Whitney had one brother eight years older, and Lois was one of nine children in the Moss family.

Reflecting back on first impressions of one another, Whitney said without hesitation, “Lois had it all. She dressed well. She was very ladylike, very proper. There was none better.”

Lois remembers Whitney being kind and funny. “He had a great sense of humor and was fun to be with. There was always a lot of laughter in our family,” she recalled.

They raised four boys and four girls while growing their family tree to 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.

The couple enjoys reminiscing about the early days.

“We both worked at the movie theater in Rayne,” recalled Whitney. “On our way home one day, there was a small sidewalk with a lot of bamboo, and it had rained. I carried Lois home on my back. That was the biggest thrill for me.” His marriage advice: Think of her more than yourself.

Lois said that she could never have loved somebody who did not have a sense of humor and who wasn’t a positive person as she shared a heartwarming memory of a simpler time of life.

“Whitney doubled me on his bicycle, and we would ride to the bakery shop around the corner from where we lived to get some fresh hot bread,” she said with a big smile. “We sat on the porch steps eating and talking. We had fun doing simple things together.”

When Whitney was in high school, his family moved to Lake Charles in 1948. He never stopped pursuing Lois even after enlisting in the Navy.

“I came home on leave from bootcamp and hitchhiked from Lake Charles to Rayne with 10 cents in my pocket,” he said. “When I made it there, I went to the store and bought her a pack of spearmint gum. I begged her to marry me.”

While both sets of parents supported their marriage, Lois said that Whitney’s mother would have preferred that they waited. “I think she felt we were a little too young at 18 and 19 years old.”

The Derises were married by Father Hubert Lerschen on October 9, 1951, in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne, the same church where they were both baptized.

Something about that day has stuck with Whitney all these years.

“My parents drove me to Rayne to get married and brought Lois and I back to Lake Charles after the wedding. My dad’s cousin who rode with us on the way home said, in French, ‘It is not going last.’  I wish she was alive now to let her know.”

While stationed in Guam, their first house was on stilts with a kerosene refrigerator, stove and generator. More than seven decades later they have called the Verandah at Graywood home for nine years after living about a mile away on Big Lake Road for 45 years.

Whitney retired from the U.S. Postal Service with 26 years and also worked for the Calcasieu Parish School Board driving a school bus for Special Education students. Lois worked for the School Board as coordinator of Library Services before retiring with 20 years. They also owned the A&W at 2901 Ryan Street for 10 years.

Whether in their younger days of belonging to the Buccaneers Club when Whitney was Jean LaFitte in 1974, or simply spending time together now watching television in their one-bedroom apartment, they each shared secrets to their long and happy marriage.

 “A lot of handholding,” said Whitney. “Lois has been my Holy Spirit. God has put her in my life in that way. She is always there when I need her. In February of this year when I broke my arm and in April when I broke my hip, she was there to help me through all of it.”

Lois said they have always talked things out. “We don’t carry grudges. We love each other and find a lot of humor in life,” she said.  “We are not complicated. Our marriage has been a closeness where we can always relate to each other.” 

Those celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2026 are:

75 YEARS:

• Whitney and Lois Derise, St. Martin de Porres, Lake Charles

65 YEARS:

• Leroy and Emma Jean Crochet, Christ the King, Lake Charles
• Dr. Larry and Marlene DeRouen, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Lake Charles
• Rodney and Ann Frey, St. Raphael, Iowa
• Lynn and Martha Lee, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles

60 YEARS:

• Alvin and Carolyn Edwards, St. Henry, Lake Charles
• Noral and Beatrice Fontenot, St. Joseph, DeRidder
• Carl and Ganelle Johnson, St. Charles Borromeo, Fenton
• Gary and Claudine Keller, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Lake Charles
• Clayton and Saundra Lafleur, St. John Bosco, Westlake
• Bradley and Sonja Moreaux, Our Lady of LaSalette, Sulphur
• Hurist and Enola Pitre, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles
• Deacon Fred and Judy Reed, St. John Bosco, Westlake
• Donald and Earline Ryder, Our Lady of Seven Dolors, Welsh
• Paul and Linda Touchet, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Sulphur

55 YEARS:

• Dr. Keith and Dale DeSonier, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles
• Patrick and Barbara Diamond, St. Martin de Porres, Lake Charles
• Michael and Glynda Dougherty, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Carlyss
• Keith and Charlotte Ellender, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Carlyss
• Juan and Luz Ledesma, St. Joseph, DeRidder
• Greg and Cathy Maylen, Christ the King, Lake Charles
• Raymond and Loretta Maylen, Christ the King, Lake Charles
• Deacon Ed and Flo McNally, Our Lady Help of Christians, Jennings
• Andrew and Brenda Myers, Immaculate Conception, Jennings
• Roger and Judy Newman, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
• Lester and Sandra Orphey, St. Henry, Lake Charles
• Lucas and Deborah Papania, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles
• Robert and Linda Richard, Christ the King, Lake Charles
• Randy and Paulette Salsbury, St. Pius X, Ragley
• Cleven and Elaine Trahan, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles

50 YEARS:

• David and Lorraine Bertrand, St. Paul, Elton
• Louis and Kathleen Bonnet, Our Lady of Seven Dolors, Welsh
• William and Kathy Clark, St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Carlyss
• Michael and Jacinta Cormier, Christ the King, Lake Charles
• Joe and Phyllis Crawford, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Oakdale
• Stan and Linda Czepiel, Immaculate Conception, Sulphur
• Deacon Richard and Denise Donahoe, St. Martin de Porres, Lake Charles
• Ronald and Pamela Gill, St. Joseph, DeRidder
• Martin and Jackie Guillory, St. Martin de Porres, Lake Charles
• Johnny and Becky Hensgens, Christ the King, Lake Charles
• Milton and Veronica Johnson, St. Henry, Lake Charles
• Richard and Nancy LaMotte, St. Martin de Porres, Lake Charles
• Julien and Linda LeBleu, Our Lady Queen of Heaven, Lake Charles
• Karl and Becky Matte, Immaculate Conception, Sulphur
• Mike and Ruth McDaniel, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
• Charles and Flossie McGee, St. Joan of Arc, Oberlin
• William and Angela Perkins Jr., St. Henry / Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lake Charles
• Denny and Patricia “Patty” Primeaux, St. Henry, Lake Charles
• Dr. Carl and Mary Ann Ross Sr., Sacred Heart of Jesus, Lake Charles
• Jeff and Cheryl Sanders, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Sulphur
• Gus and Lisa Schram III, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
• George and Geraldine Simonet, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Lake Charles
• Curtis and Beverly St. Mary, St. Joseph, LeBleu Settlement
• Clark and Sandy Yelverton, St. Margaret of Scotland, Lake Charles

25 YEARS:

• David and Christine Almaguer, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
• Nicholas and Amanda Bebee, St. Charles Borromeo, Fenton
• Bruce and Lindsay Campbell, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
• Kenneth and JoAnna Constance, Christ the King, Lake Charles
• Kyle and Shelly Landry, Immaculate Conception, Sulphur
• Greg and Pam LeBlanc, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
• Chad and Sandra LeBoeuf, St. Joseph, DeRidder
• Brian and Courtney McCain, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Lake Charles
• Jeremy and Barbara McCall, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
• Manolo and Leticia Morales, St. Henry, Lake Charles
• Terry and Lorrie Odom, Sacred Heart of Jesus, Oakdale
• David and Hope Simon, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Sulphur
• Chris and Kristina Talbert, St. Theodore, Moss Bluff
• Jesse and Misty Thibodeaux II, St. Lawrence, Raymond
• Scott and Rozilind Rosteet, Jr., Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Sulphur