Chester Sylvester, Jr.

WHITEVILLE – It is with heavy hearts and great sorrow that the family announces the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather Chester Sylvester Jr. He died peacefully at his home in Whiteville surrounded by his family at 10:00 A.M. on Sunday, March 28, 2021. He was 90 years old, born on March 12, 1931 in Ville Platte, Louisiana.

Chester was a 1950 graduate of Ville Platte High, and then served his country as a member of the U.S. Air-Force for two years. In 1954 he became a dairy farmer in Morrow, Louisiana. In 1968 he started farming rice, soybean, and crawfish. Chester established Sylvester’s Crawfish Processors in 1983. He was also a cattleman.

Chester devoted his life to the care of his family. He and his beloved Una began their legacy raising their six children in Whiteville.  His great joys in life were fishing, hunting, and playing cards with his family and his friends.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years Una Lee Thibodeaux Sylvester and his wife of two years Arlene Feaster Sylvester. He is also preceded in death by one daughter Mary Sylvester; parents Chester Sr. and Alicia Deville Sylvester; and one brother Donald Sylvester.

Chester will be greatly missed by his two daughters, Jennifer Fontenot and her husband Darwin of Lafayette and Lisa Tujague and her husband Frank of Ville Platte; his four sons, Chet and his wife Paula of Whiteville; Ted and his wife Terri of Ville Platte; Jeffery and his wife Catherine of Ville Platte; and Tim and his wife Allison of Ville Platte. He is also survived by twenty-seven grandchildren and thirty-six great grandchildren and one daughter-in-law Terri Fontenot Sylvester.

The Sylvester family would like to express our deepest appreciation for the wonderful caretakers Chester had for the last four years.

Visitation will be held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being recited at 6:30 P.M. Visitation will resume on Wednesday from 8:00 A.M. until the time of service.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Chapel of the Resurrection in Whiteville, Louisiana with Father Donavan Labbe officiating on Wednesday, March 31st at 11:00.  Entombment will follow at The Chapel of the Resurrection Mausoleum.

Family and friends may send condolences to the Sylvester family at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.

Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Ville Platte is in charge of arrangements.