Janet Marie Babin Merritt

Janet Marie Babin Merritt, born on November 19, 1955 in Donaldsonville, La, passed away on January 8, 2024 at the age of 68.

Janet was a Louisiana State employee, retiring in 2009 with 34 years of service, spending the majority of her years under the Department of Health and Hospitals. After a short time off she continued to work for the state in a part-time capacity until her death. She was a member at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, having previously served on the parish counsel. She was a 45+ year member of the Catholic Daughters of America, a member of Lion's Club International, Clerical Association of Louisiana, and the Louisiana Public Health Association who in April 2023 presented her with the Meritorious Service Award which going forward shall be named in her honor. Janet truly had a servant's heart. She went out of her way to help both friends and family, never expecting anything in return. Janet enjoyed spending time with her large family, eating out, reading and writing poetry, binging television shows, going to casinos, and bowling.

She is preceded in death by her father, Whitney P. Babin, Sr.; brother-in-law, Herman Lebourgeois; and sisters-in-law, Gwen Babin and Lisa Babin.

Janet is survived by her son, Christian Merritt; daughter, Charity Merritt Ford and husband Keith; three grandsons, Sawyer, Cooper, and Logan Ford; mother, Cornelia LeBlanc Babin; brothers, Whitney P. Babin, Jr. and partner Bonnie Vaughn, Dwayne Babin, and Dale Babin and wife Selma; and her sisters, Brenda Babin Lebourgeois, and Darla Babin Lewis and husband Matthews. Janet is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and so many loving friends.

Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Tuesday, January 16, 2024 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 44450 Highway 429, Saint Amant, LA, from 9:00 am until a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Church Cemetery. Reading of the rosary will take place at 10am.

In lieu of flowers the family would be honored for memorial donations to be made in Janet's name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Full of Grace Cafe at Holy Rosary Church.