Willa Rae Jourdain

Willa Rae Jourdain, age 43, “Minaajiikwe” which means “Precious Lady, of Red Lake, Minnesota began her journey to the spirit world on Saturday, June 23, 2018.  She was born on January 6, 1975 in Red Lake, MN, the daughter of Elaine Marie (Richey) and Floyd Patrick Jourdain, Sr.

Willa was the youngest of seven children.  She was raised in Red Lake and Bemidji.  Willa attended Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School and the Cass Lake High School.  Willa was generous and kind, caring and loving and she greeted everyone with a smile.  She made many friends with her sense of humor.  Willa loved spending time with her daughters and her siblings.  Some of her favorite things to do were gardening, flower arranging, road tripping, thrift shopping and chasing butterflies.  Willa was a very hard worker and loved to take pictures of wildlife.  She enjoyed driving and listening to rock music.  Willa was very helpful to her family and friends.  She will be sadly missed

She is welcomed to the spirit world by her mother; Elaine Marie Jourdain, son; Daniel Jacob Worner, grandparents; George and Anna Richey, Sr. and Patrick and Elizabeth Jourdain, nephews; Chase Pontiac Jourdain and Waylon Don Desjarlait, her Godfather Raymond “Ray” Beaulieu, several more relative and friends.

Family that she leaves behind are her daughters; Auralia Bellecourt of Duluth and Arianna Greene of Red Lake, brothers; Floyd “Buck” (Gina) Jourdain, Jr. and John M. Jourdain both of Red Lake, sisters; Georgianna Jourdain and Patricia E. Jourdain both of Red Lake, Susan Jourdain of Walker and Wendy (William) McCarthy of Deer River, her Godmother; Shirley Lussier, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other family and many friends.

A wake for Willa will begin at 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 27th and continue until her funeral service at 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 29th all being held at the New Little Rock Community Center in Red Lake, MN.  Father Jerry Rogers will officiate.  Pallbearers for Willa will be Floyd “Buck” Jourdain, Jr., John Jourdain, Solomon Desjarlait, Laurs Bryan Williams, Joe Perkins and Michael Fasthorse.  Alternate pallbearers are Ralph Thunder, Phillip J. Jourdain and William McCarthy, Jr.  Her honorary pallbearers are Ah Gah Shee Michaud, Michelle Anderson, Glenda Bryan, Donna Williams, Valerie Desjarlait, Casey George, Lauren Purley, Denise May, Jenny May, Melissa Greene, Fred Worner, Rose Worner, Mike Kornezos, Sr., Sharon Brown, Paris Brown, Lenny Bellecourt, Arik Williams, Robert “Bob” Smith, Bernice Lancaster, Jimmy George and Mike Schmidt.  Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery following her Friday service.

Willa’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker.  Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com

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