A Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Fanara, age 58 of Bunkie, LA., will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, June 5, 2015 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Bunkie with the Rev. Scott Chemino officiating.

Burial will follow at Pythian Cemetery in Bunkie, LA under the direction of Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home of Bunkie.

Ms. Fanara passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2015 in her residence.

She served for 16 years as Bunkie Chief-of-Police, 17 years as a patrolman, dispatcher, and detective for Bunkie Police; and four years as an Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's detective; totaling an outstanding 37-year career in law enforcement.

Mary was born on December 25, 1956 in Bunkie, LA. to the late Mr. Tony Lipoma and Mrs. Virginia Lipoma. In 1977, at 20 years old, she was the first female officer hired at the Bunkie Police Department. In 1983, she was the first person in the history of the Bunkie Police Department to shoot a perfect score. In 1990, she became the first female city marshal of Ward 10.

In 1994, she was elected as the Bunkie Chief-of-Police and served in this position through 1998. Beginning in 1998 she worked as a detective at the Avoyelles Parish Sheriff's Department until again winning the chief's position in 2002. She served three consecutive terms as chief and retired in 2014.

Mary worked tirelessly to develop and modernize the Bunkie Police Department, relocating the building from its original location on West Oak Street to the current, more visible, building on Main Street. She secured grants to fund technologies such as mobile cameras, body cameras, tasers, and continual education for officers.

Mary performed much community service during her career, serving on the Louisiana Chiefs of Police Association, Louisiana Crime Victims Reparations Board, Medication Assistance for the Needy Board, Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Board, and the Bunkie Rotary Club. She was also a member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church.

She is survived by her fiancé, Glen Gremillion; son, Philip Fanara and wife Xuening Bai; sisters, Virginia Lipoma and Carmel Lipoma; brothers, Anthony Lipoma and wife Maryann, and Mike Lipoma; and 12 nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Tony and Virginia Lipoma; and brothers, Francis and Felix Lipoma.

Visitation will be held at 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. on Friday at the Hixson-Ducote Funeral Home in Bunkie. A rosary will be cited at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Bunkie, 409 St. John St., Bunkie, LA 71322. Online condolences may be sent to ww.hixson-ducote.com