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ABBEVILLE – Funeral Services for Mrs. Patricia Ann Bertrand Broussard, 79, will be held at 11:00AM on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at David Funeral Home Chapel of Abbeville with Fr. Louis Richard officiating.  Interment will follow at St. Alphonsus Mausoleum in Maurice.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Abbeville on Thursday, March 22, 2018 from 9:00AM until the time of the services with a rosary at 9:30AM.
A native and resident of Abbeville Mrs. Broussard died at 11:18AM on Monday, March 19, 2018 at Lafayette General Medical Center.  She was a self taught artist; sign language interpreter; taught catechism; and enjoyed cooking.  She also taught primary education to deaf children in Florida for several years.
She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Herman Broussard of Abbeville; a daughter, Jacqui M. Broussard of Abbeville; a sister, Rexine Sellers of New Iberia; an aunt, Ruby Ortamond, an uncle Dudley Bertrand; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Osa Bertrand Sellers; and her father, John Lawrence.
Serving as pallbearers will be members of her family and friends.
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Abbeville at 2600 Charity St. (337)893-3777 will be handling the arrangements.  

On March 17, we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the wearin’ o’ the green, and on March 19 special altars and devotions mark St. Joseph’s Day. These are special occasions and just about everyone at least takes note of them. That’s why I have for a long time felt sorry for St. Frigidian.
His feast day is March 18, but, wedged like he is between big guys like Patrick and Joseph, nobody gives him even a nod, let alone a celebration. He probably doesn’t mind; he lived a good part of his life as a hermit even though he had regal blood and was made a bishop. But it still bothers me.
He was born in Ireland, the son of King Ultach of Ulster, and was said to have studied in an Irish monastery. After St. Frigidian was ordained a priest, he made a pilgrimage to Italy and took up life as a hermit near the city of Lucca. In 556, Pope John II persuaded him to become bishop of Lucca, but Frigidian still maintained a simple lifestyle.
A hermit’s life doesn’t offer much inspiration for a party, even in south Louisiana, where we will celebrate anything, but his most famous miracle may give us a little something to work with. It involved the Serchio River, which, like some of our waterways, regularly overflowed into the town of Lucca.
According to the legends, when the townspeople begged their saintly bishop to do something about the floods, he walked down to the river bank and began to rake a little path leading away from the town and into nearby fields. After that, as the story goes, the overflow brought fertile silt into the fields but stayed away from the town.
There may be a gleaning there, though it’s evaded me so far.
But, while I have your interest — I do have your interest, don’t I? — there are a couple of other worthy March celebrations that you need to mark on your calendar.
For example, you probably forgot altogether that March 1 has been National Pig Day in the United States since 1972. Two sisters Ellen Stanley, a teacher in Lubbock, Texas, and Mary Lynne Rave of Beaufort, North Carolina, thought we needed a day set aside “to accord the pig its rightful, though generally unrecognized, place as one of man’s most intellectual and domesticated animals.”
There seems to be a difference of opinion over whether we should honor pigs by giving them a break (March 1 is also our national Peanut Butter Lovers Day) or whether we should show our appreciation for pigs by eating barbecued ribs. Personally, I don’t see how there can be a celebration of the pig that doesn’t involve cracklins.
Did you toast March 11 with apple cider? That was Johnny Appleseed Day, when we remember John Chapman, who became a legend promoting apple trees. The popular image is of a man who altruistically spread apple seeds randomly across the country. That’s not quite right. It’s true that he planted orchards and gave them away for other people to tend. But he didn’t have much overhead, since cider mills gave him the seeds for free. They wanted people to grow more apple trees so they could make more cider, and Johnny got a cut when the apples were sold.
My math-minded friends (both of them) usually do something special on Pi Day. It is observed on March 14 (3/14) because, as you member from your high school math, the mathematical constant pi is roughly equal to 3.14. I vaguely remember that Pi has something to .do with circles, but you need to ask someone else if you want to know more.
Some fanatics celebrate Pi Minute on March 14 at 1:59 p.m. Pi stretched to seven decimal places is 3.1415926, making March 14 at 1:59:26 p.m. Pi Second. That’s when you should toot that little roll-out tooter left over from New Year’s Eve.
I’m told that a proper Pi Day celebration should involve pies, which may offer an idea of to what to do for poor St. Frigidian. Wrap ’em all together. Celebrate the day with leftover green beer, cracklins, something Italian from the St. Joseph altar, and a slice of apple pie. Just to give it local flavor and a Frigidian character, throw in a few boiled crawfish pulled from a flooded field.
If you’re on a tight budget, just the cracklins and crawfish will do.
A collection of Jim Bradshaw’s columns, Cajuns and Other Characters, is now available from Pelican Publishing. You can contact him at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.

GUEYDAN — It’s with great sadness and heavy hearts that the family of Lawrence Joseph Thompson, 92, announces his passing from this life on March 18, 2018 at the age of 92. Lawrence was born in Gueydan, LA to Frank “Dutch” Thompson and Ida Fruge Thompson on November 25, 1925. He served Our Nation honorably in the United States Navy. After his enlistment, Lawrence worked in the oil field and later on owned his own businesses, for over 50 years. A few of his businesses were Eastern Wireline and Perf-O-Log. Lawrence loved hunting, fishing, and most of all his farm in Klondike. He loved when he was able to work his cattle and farm. Lawrence enjoyed his time the most when he was able to spend it with his family and friends, with many a stories to tell them. Lawrence will be missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Lawrence is survived by his daughter, Nanette (Gordon) Laseter of Gueydan, LA; five grandchildren, Annie, Kristy, Russ, Lance and Benjamin; eight great-grandchildren; Carslyn, Caden, Hunter, Gracie, Aiden, Kingston, Kasen, and Amie; and brother, Everett Thompson of Youngsville, LA.
Lawrence is preceded in death by his parents, Frank “Dutch” and Ida F. Thompson; step-father, Ed Gardiner; wife, Shirley Louise Guidry Thompson; son, Larry Gerard Thompson; and sister, Joyce Daigle.
A Mass of Christian Burial in honor of Lawrence “Be” Joseph Thompson’s life will be held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Gueydan, LA on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at 11:00 AM with Reverend Corey Campeaux officiating. A gathering of family and friends will be held at Matthews & Son Funeral Home in Gueydan, LA on Tuesday, March 20th at 3:30 PM until 9:00 PM with a Rosary recited at 6:00 PM. The family request that visitation resume on Wednesday, March 21st at 8:00 AM until the time of his services. Lawrence will be laid to rest in Gueydan Cemetery.
Carrying Lawrence “Be” to his final resting place in Gueydan Cemetery will be Gordon, Russ, Lance, Benjamin, Mark Lemaire.
To extend online condolences, please visit our website at www.matthewsandsonfuneralhome.net
Arrangements have been entrusted to Matthews & Son Funeral Home.

Miss Halie Andre Wright of Maurice, La., and Mr. Aaron Michael David of Abbeville, La., were joined in marriage during a ceremony held on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at St. Mary Magalen Catholic Church in Abbeville.
Father Louis Richard officiated the 6 p.m. nuptials.
The bride is the daughter of Coy and Kristie Wright of Maurice. Her grandparents are Harris and Brenda Desormeaux of Maurice, and Michael and Alverna Wright of Rayne, La.
Parents of the groom are Lance and Danielle David of Abbeville. His grandparents are Herschel and the late Cynthia David of Abbeville, Larry Laporte and Dolores Landry, both of Abbeville.
The church was decorated with clutches of hydrangeas tied with ivory silk ribbon as pew markers. The altar was adorned with fresh arrangements of hydrangea, ivory roses and ivory majolica roses.
Music was provided by Tommy Guidry, organist; Jennifer Melancon, vocalist and Jared Gray, trumpet.
Music was Trumpet Voluntary for the processional and Charpentier: Te Deum for the recessional; Schubert - Ave Maria; Handel - Air II; Psalm 128 - Happy are They Who Honor the Lord by Haas; Bach - Sleepers Wake and Bach - Bist Du Bei Mir.
Ecorted by her father, the birde wore an ivory Faille de Soie fit and flare gown designed by Amsale with a V-neckline.
She wore a cathedral length heirloom veil with handmade lace from France. The headpiece was embellished with crystals and freshwater pearls, designed by Sara Gabriel.
The bride’s bouquet was a fresh arrangement of white o’hara roses, ivory roses, ranunculus and baby’s breath tied with ivory satin ribbon.
Hannah Wright served as maid of honor Bridesmaids were Caroline David, Skylar Noel, Analeah Tribaldos, Alexis Langlinais, Anna Dartez, Whitney Freeland and Sophie Wright. They wore full length, off the shoulder crepe dresses with criss cross detail at open back. The gown had a trumpet skirt in the color palomino. They carried bouquets of fresh arrangements of white o’hara roses, ivory roses, ranunculus and baby’s breath tied with ivory satin ribbon.
Flower girls were Remi and Zara Meada, daughters of Kenji and Kelli Meada. They wore full length gowns with telosma sequin lace on the bodice with a full tulle skirt.
Ryan David served as best man. Groomsmen included Josh Broussard, Emile Chiasson, Etienne Trahan, Mark Laporte, Holden Wright and Grant David. Ring bearers were Sawyer Wright, son of Coy and Kristie Wright and Kole Duhon, son of Kyle and Kalen Duhon. Ushers were Caleb Broussard, Reiss Hebert, Joey Faulk and Blair Landry.
The reception was held at Magdalen Place. The bride’s cake was a four tiered white cake with lemon, strawberry, Bavarian and butter pecan filling with ivory buttercream frosting. The tiers were separated by fresh flowers.
The groom’s cake was a two tiered chocolate cake with butter pecan and chocolate chip filling with chocolate fondant on both tiers with twisted fondant border with chocolate covered strawberries.
The couple will reside in Abbeville, La.
A rehearsal dinner was held on Friday, March 16, 2018, at Riverfront, hosted by the parents of the groom.
The bride is a 2015 graduate of Vermilion Catholic High School.
The groom is a 2012 graduate of Vermilion Catholic High School.