Babbette "Babs" Sunderlin Gerard

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our wife and mother, Babbette Sunderlin Gerard, 71, formerly of Indiana, Pennsylvania. Babs passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025, at Cypress Point Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Bossier City, Louisiana, surrounded by her loving husband and her three children.

Born July 16, 1953, in Indiana, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Reed T. Sunderlin and Gertrude Bracken Sunderlin and daughter-in-law of Felix James Gerard and Rachel Orange Gerard.

She will be lovingly remembered by her friends and family. During her working years, Babs was a substitute teacher in many of the Bossier City elementary schools. She also loved working as an assistant teacher for Autistic children in Ulysses, Kansas.

Babs was the youngest of the four Sunderlin children. She was a member of the First Methodist Church in Indiana, PA., the United Methodist Church in Marion Center, PA, and First Methodist Church of Shreveport, LA. Babs was also a graduate of Indiana Area High School – Class of 71.

In addition to her parents and in-laws, she was preceded in death by her brother, Thomas R. Sunderlin of Rural Valley, PA.

Those who remain will truly miss Babs including her husband of 51 years, Felix James ( Jamer) Gerard, II.; daughters, Kristy Michelle Hunter and Kelly Marie Gerard; son, Timothy James Gerard and his wife, Mandi Marie Gerard, and her grandchildren, Taylor James Gerard, Garett Reed Gerard, Felix Morgan Gerard, Kamryn Hunter Whatley and husband, Ty Whatley, Justin Adam Hunter, Jr., Maddison Avery Brown and Aubrey Marie Brown all of Bossier City, LA., as well as her sisters, Bonnie Lee Lightcap of Lafayette, LA., and Sara (Sally) Sunderlin of Indiana, PA., and her sister and brothers-in-law, Becky Gerard Fornell and husband, David Fornell of Troy, OH, and Lauren Gerard Anderson and husband, Mike Anderson of Memphis, TN.

Plans are for Babs to be laid to rest in Greenwood Cemetery, Indiana, PA., along with her husband when he passes, and with her parents and extended family.

A memorial ceremony and service will be held at Rose-Neath Funeral Home in Bossier City, LA. Visitation will be on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 1:00 PM with the service beginning at 2:00 PM. Dr. Steven Bell will officiate the service.

The family wishes to thank the nursing staff at Cypress Point and the nursing staff at Amedisys Hospice for their tender and loving care of our Babs.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Huntington’s Disease Society of America, https://hdsa.org, or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, www.stjude.org, Memphis, TN.