Olga Mae RODRIGUE

Olga Mae Rodrigue Iles, beloved mother and grandmother, age 86, passed away on December 22, 2005, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Beaumont, Texas, after a short illness. She was a lifelong resident of Port Arthur until 2000 when she moved to Beaumont. Olga Mae Rodrigue Iles was born to Mr. and Mrs. Henry J. Rodrigue Sr. in New Iberia, Louisiana, on June 22, 1919, the second of 4 children. She bore the distinguishing honor of being a direct descendant of the Revolutionary War Patriot Jean Baptiste Rodrigue, who served out of Louisiana under Galvez in 1776. At an early age her family moved to Port Arthur where she attended Franklin School. During her youth Olga Mae took piano lessons, was captain of the girls basketball team, and studied art, excelling in painting and sketching. After graduating high school in 1937 she worked for the telephone office. After Mass at St. Mary's Church one Sunday she met Howell Iles Sr. and they married shortly after in 1938. Olga Mae and Howell were married 56 wonderful years and raised 6 children in the home they built in 1939. During retirement she loved to garden flowers while Howell grew the vegetables. Together they were blessed with traveling overseas many times as well as many gatherings at lakes and beaches enjoying the children and grandchildren. Her lifelong dedication was to God and her family. Known to her grandchildren as "Bam" she had a playful sense of humor and a tenacious spirit. After she was widowed in 1994, she continued as a homemaker, serving St. James Parish as a member of the Ladies Altar Society. She was also an active member of a social club for retired widows and widowers. After a stroke in 2000 she put her all into rehab and therapy at Baylor Hospital in Dallas and achieved a level of ability that allowed her to live independently with assistance at Collier Park in Beaumont. She took short Texas trips, and then a wonderful trip with her children to Honolulu Hawaii in 2003. Never a complainer, our beloved, precious Mother lived her Golden Days with grace, dignity and above all love for her ever grateful family and friends. Olga Mae Rodrigue Iles is survived by her brother, Henry J. Rodrique, Jr. (wife Erbel), her children Kenneth Craig Iles of Heidelberg, Germany (wife Roseann), Howell "Buddy" Iles Jr. of Okinawa, Japan (wife Judy), Paula Restrepo (husband John) of Dallas, Robert Iles (wife Patti) of Austin, Anne Pampolina (husband Ricci) of Lumberton; 6 grandchildren: Stephen Iles of Boulder, Colorado, Natalie Pampolina of College Station, Christopher Pampolina of Lumberton, Lauren and Gregory Iles of Austin, and Victoria Restrepo of Dallas. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her mother Pauline Rodrigue in 1950, son Johnny Iles in 1948, sister Marjorie Verret Gentil in 1970, father Henry Rodrigue Sr. in 1979, grandson Eric Iles in 1994, and husband Howell Iles Sr. in 1994. Her children wish to thank the excellent and compassionate care she received from the doctors and staff at St. Elizabeth Hospital Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, especially Dr. Aldrich and Chantel for their kindness to our family. A rosary and visitation will be on Monday December 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Clayton-Thompson Funeral Home, 5200 39th Street, Groves, Texas, with the rosary being prayed at 7 p.m. Mass of Celebration and Thanksgiving will be on Tuesday, December 27, at 10 a.m. at Kirwin Hall, St. James Catholic Church, Port Arthur, Texas. After a short graveside ceremony at Greenlawn Cemetery in Port Arthur, the family invites friends and relatives to a reception immediately following. 5200 W. Parkway Groves, Texas 77619 409-962-8836