Janice Rupple

Our Angel has gone home to Heaven... Born Sept. 4, 1942, she died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010. A beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, Janice was a native of Baker and 1960 graduate of Baker High School. She retired as an East Baton Rouge Parish school bus driver after 30 years of service and moved to Houston, where she lost her 16year battle with breast cancer at 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010, after astonishing all the doctors at MD Anderson with her courage, her attitude and determination. She truly became an inspiration to many patients and families struggling with cancer, on her way to becoming one of the longest living breast cancer survivors in MD Anderson history. She told all that she spoke to that attitude was half the battle.

Janice is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years, Ralph Edward Rupple Sr.; three children, Ralph Jr. and wife Cathy Rupple, of Benton, Ark., Chad and wife Michele Rupple, and Aimee Rupple Karm, all of Crosby, Texas; and the heart of who she was her nine grandchildren, Terry Rupple, Victor and Jannie Fontenot, Kristofer Rupple, Raegan Rupple, Cooper Fontenot, Drake Rupple, Isabella Fontenot and KenadyKate Fontenot; a great-granddaughter, Kirsten Rupple; sister, Sarah Sue Gibbs Day; brother, Frank Oliver Gibbs Jr.; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.

Janice was preceded in death by a baby daughter, Vivian Jeannine Rupple; her parents, Frank Sr. and Mae Alice Gibbs; and a beloved nephew, Foxey Gibbs.

Pallbearers will be her nephews, John Day, Mark Day, Daniel Day, Kent Day, Darren Day, Cord Rupple, Lance Rupple and Rowdy Gibbs. Standing in for her late nephew, Foxey Gibbs, will be his son, Cody Gibbs.

Honorary pallbearers are her nieces, Sissy Day Martinez, Jennifer Day Champagne, Perrine Day Hooge, Deana Rupple Muegge and Amber Gibbs Mena.

Relatives and friends are invited to join the family for the visitation at Baker Funeral Home, 6401 Groom Road, Baker, LA on Monday, December 20, 2010 from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM, and will resume on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 from 8:00 AM until religious services in the chapel at 10:00 AM, conducted by Rev. Huey Moak. Interment to follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park.