Des Allemands and Luling parade organizers announce kings, queens and grand marshals, too
Carnival season is upon us and the bead-filled days of Mardi Gras wouldn’t be complete without the rolling of the Krewe of Lul and Krewe of Des Allemands parades.
And with the floats and marching bands comes the selection of each organization’s king and queen to reign over the tradition.
Krewe of Lul organizers have selected lifetime residents of St. Charles Parish Ray and Cecile “Cyl” Landeche of Luling as this year’s royalty.
“We have always supported and enjoyed the parade at our home with family and friends, but this year we are looking forward to the parade with the greatest anticipation ever,” said Cecile.
The couple, who share three grandchildren – Lucia, Claire and Thomas, are the parents of Tiffany Landeche Bellanger and Blake Landeche.
Ray is retired from the Federal Deposit Insurance Company and is now self-employed with Landeche Consultant Group – a corporation he formed in 2004.
Cecile formerly worked in the parish as a radiology secretary and transcriponist for St. Charles Parish Hospital in addition to serving as the executive secretary for former parish president Kevin Friloux, and as a pathology secretary and transcriptionist for West Jefferson Medical Center.
The couple enjoy gardening, reading and attending movies and plays, but say that their greatest joy is family, especially their grandchildren.
Ray and Cecile have also been involved with the Luling Parent-Teacher Association, Cub Scouts, Jaycees, Ellington Swim Club and the St. Charles Women’s Club.
The Krewe of Lul has also selected Maddie Fabre to serve as the parade’s grand marshal.
Maddie is the wife of the late Leon R. Fabre Sr. and is a 43-year Luling resident. The pair moved here from Lafayette when Leon was hired on by Union Carbide.
“I feel it is such a great honor to have been asked to be the grand marshal for the Krewe of Lul,” said Maddie.
Maddie is the mother of four children and eight grandchildren.
“My eldest daughter, Jackie, resides in Sherman, Texas with her husband Glenn Melancon and their two sons, Christopher and Alexandre” she added. “My other three children reside in Luling.”
Maddie’s eldest son, Brian and his wife Andrea, have three children – Brandi, Kaylie and Cameron. Michelle, who is Maddie’s other daughter, shares one daughter, Ava, with her husband Tim Boudreaux. Maddie’s son Lee and his wife Jeanine have two children, Emersyn and Paxton.
Retired as of 2000, Maddie was a kindergarten teacher in St. Charles Parish for 25 years with the majority of her career spent at Luling Elementary.
“Since retiring, my days are centered on family, church and volunteering at St. Charles Parish Hospital,” she said.
For Joe and Dell Frickey of Des Allemands, the town’s annual parade has been a large part of their life for as long as they can remember. So reigning as this year’s king and queen is exciting for the couple.
“The parade passes in front of our house, so each year we have everyone over and cook,” said Joe. “We’re going to miss that part of it, but we were truly pleased and honored to be asked to serve as this year’s king and queen.”
The Frickeys share four children and six grandchildren. Their son Douglas, wife Mary, works as an inspector and contractor. Daughter Lynn Becnel, husband Stuart, serve as the manager of editorial services at Tulane Law School and the director of facilities at Loyola College of Music and Fine Arts. Daughter Laurie Hendrickson is a New Orleans District Court reporter and daughter Lisa Frickey is a pathologist.
The Frickeys’ grandchildren are Maria Chester, Rebecca Young, Doug Frickey Jr., Brianna Becnel, Brandt Becnel and Sarah Hendrickson.
Joe is a retired masonry contractor, a profession he carried for 50 years, and served five years on the Indigent Defibrillator Board.
Dell was music director at Hahnville High School for 35 years and served on the Houma Arts Council for the River Region, SCRT.
High points for Dell include traveling to Rome, Italy with the Riverdale High School choir for the St. Peters Easter Vigil Mass, traveling to Disney with the HHS choir and having the symphony play with the choir.
The couple, who’ve been married for 53 years, enjoy yard work, fishing, reading and cooking.
“Family is our focus,” said Joe. “We try to cook one meal once a week for the family and bring it to the kids. They all work so hard and we love seeing them.”
Joe and Dell add that the Krewe of Des Allemands parade is a fun, clean and safe place for their children and grandchildren to celebrate Mardi Gras.
Lifelong Des Allemands resident Justilien Cortez has been chosen as the parade’s grand marshal.
Justilien is the husband of the late Gloria F. Cortez.
The couple were married for 50 years and share seven children, 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Children are Joann, Justilien Jr., James, John, Louise, Sandra and Glenda.
Justilien, who is now retired, worked at the ADM grain elevator in Ama for 27 years, served 31 years at the Des Allemands Volunteer Fire Department and has been a part of the Des Allemands Catfish Festival for 28 years. His No. 1 hobby is building wooden models such as plantation, church and houseboat models.
Justilien adds that he had no idea he was going to be asked to be in the parade.
“It was a surprise,” he said. “And I was delighted. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
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