Marie Mosede Sonnier Heileman was born to the late Ernest and Della Marie (Jolivette) Sonnier in Carencrow, Louisiana on November 14, 1934. In her teens, she moved to Houston. She attended E. O. Smith Middle School. She had to stop attending in the eighth grade in order to care for her younger siblings. Marie met Henry Heileman at a Zydeco Club in Frenchtown. They married on December 1, 1956, at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church and to this union were born seven children (three were triplets). Marie and Henry were married for over 60 years.

Marie was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church for over 50 years. She was a devout Catholic and prayed the rosary often. She made sure all of her children attended mass and Sunday School classes.

As the matriarch of a large family, she again had to stop working in order to care for her family. She was a phenomenal homemaker. Not only did she make sure everyone was well groomed and respectable, she was an amazing cook. She was well known for her pecan pralines, canned fruits, okra gumbo, jambalaya, dirty rice, boudin, butterfly shrimp, and fried chicken.

In addition to caring for the family, she helped my dad run his family business. She answered calls, greeted customers and often times you would see her handling tools or pumping brakes. With an entrepreneurial spirit, she would sell pralines, cool cups or bake goods to help with the family finances.

Despite many ailments and challenges, she emerged victoriously and beat all the odds. She instilled that spirit of kindness, strength, determination, compassion, and drive in all of her children. She taught them to make their own choices and learn from their mistakes. She was always supportive, but she knew how to cut the cord so they could become independent.

She leaves to cherish her memory seven children, Richard Heileman (Linda), Earnest Heileman, Kathy Gabriel (Delas), Kay Joseph (Craig), Karren Edwards (Embrick), Vicky Heileman Pink and Patricia Heileman. She also leaves 16 grandchildren, Richard, Jr. (Leah), Timothy, Janel, Amanda Marie, Joshua, Shawn, Kathryn, Jarvis, Brittney (Bryant), Amber Marie, Brandon, Emanuel, Nola Marie, Jasmine (Maurice), Amir and Kailah, as well as Kennedy, Lauren, Martin, Preston and other additions to the family. She leaves behind six great grandchildren, Ethan, Seth, Liam, Hazel Marie, Austin, and Allanah. She also leaves behind four sisters, Ruby (Clarence), Rose (Murphy), Pearl (Ray) and Mable (Michael), as well as three brothers, Wilbert (Betty), Milton (Augusta) and Eugene (Marie).

Her parents Ernest and Della Marie Sonnier and her four brothers Harry, Jesse, Paul LJ, and Clayton Sonnier preceded her in death.

Marie passed away on October 11, 2017, and was laid to rest on October 14, 2017, at Paradise North Cemetery after a funeral mass at Our Mother of Mercy Catholic Church.