RSS Feed

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024 at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church for Marie Foret Broussard, 66, who passed away Saturday, September 14, 2024, at Ochsner Lafayette General Hospital.
Fr. Mark Miley, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, will be officiating the services, with Fr. Marshall Boulet, Fr. Glenn Meaux, Fr. Anand Raju, Fr. Bala Rayapati, and Fr. Brent Smith concelebrating, and Deacon Dan Didier assisting. Visiting hours will be held Saturday, September 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Michael Catholic Church and a rosary will be led by Deacon Dan Didier at 10:30 a.m. Dr. John Foret will deliver a eulogy on behalf of the family and Murphy Guilbeaux will serve as music minister. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery immediately following the Mass.
Marie held multiple degrees including a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, as well as a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She graduated from Our Lady of Fatima High School in 1976 and the Catholic education she received there instilled the tenets of abiding faith and importance of family that she lived by.
She taught at Crowley Kindergarten and served as principal at Evangeline Elementary School and Mermentau Elementary School. An outstanding educator and Teacher of the Year award recipient, she was regarded by peers, parents, and students as an insightful leader who believed in the importance of education and the potential of every child. She retired on July 1, 2019 after 38 years of outstanding service and dedication to the Vermilion and Acadia Parish School Systems.
She led by example in her professional, personal, and religious communities, serving as a Children’s Church Minister and Lector at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church. Her Catholic faith was, and will continue to be, an inspiration to all who knew her.
She loved to cook and her dishes are on many holiday favorites lists. Her recipes will live on, along with her beautiful spirit, in the hearts and holidays of her loved ones. Marie loved spending time with family and friends, vacationing at Hodges Gardens with extended family, co-hosting summer adventures with her sisters for her nieces and nephews, attending her grandchildren’s activities, going for walks, and writing poetry. Creating memories for her grandkids as their ReRe was one of her greatest joys.
In keeping with Marie’s loving and generous spirit, she shared the gift of life through organ and tissue donation. Her legacy will live on through her recipients as they share the precious gift of life they received from her in their families and communities.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Jules Broussard; two sons, Jason Broussard and his wife Sheri of Maurice, and Andre Broussard and his wife Caroline of Crowley; six grandchildren, Emmie Broussard, Zoe Young, Rhett Young, Carter Fagan, Luke Thomas Broussard, and Henry Broussard; eight siblings, Jim Foret and his wife Paula, Renee Enze and her husband Chuck, Yvette Yandle and her husband Sonny, Marcelle Langlinais and her husband Bob, Dr. Celeste Garbarino and her husband Rich, Adrienne Menard and her husband Randy, Dr. John Foret and his wife Marcelle, Jeff Foret and his wife Joetta; her brother-in-law, Mike Slover; her sisters-in-law, Kathy Bourgeois, Barbara Louviere and her husband Gerald, and Cindy Broussard; and numerous nieces, nephews, and godchildren for whom she was a favorite aunt.
Marie is preceded in death by her parents, Dr. James and Fay Theard Foret; one sister, Michelle Slover; her in-laws, C.L. Broussard and Eugenie LeBlanc; two brothers-in-law, Bill Broussard and Terry Bourgeois; a niece, Ashley Guidry; and two nephews, Nicholas Garbarino and Brandon Broussard.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all the medical professionals and caregivers who supported Marie and her care, including the professionals at Adult Day Health Care of Carencro and Dr. Karrie Kilgore, as well as Dr. Virginia Kellner, Dr. Jeannette Liu, Dr. Joseph Schulz, Dr. Deidre Stelly, Muff Bier, Jenny Didier, Marcelle Langlinais, Melissa Lege, Adrienne Menard, and Joanne Richey. The family would also like to share heartfelt thanks with the Foret family, Fr. Milliard Boyer, Cindy Broussard, Emily Broussard, Lauren Broussard, Gwen Cormier, Dena and Kelly Faulk, Diane and Ed Gibson, Penny and Kenny Habetz, Cheryl and Ricky LeBlanc, Beverly Maloz, Fr. Glenn Meaux, Fr. Mark Miley, Fr. Louis Richard, Johanna Sittig, and Riceland Drive neighbors for the support, visits, and prayers throughout her extended illness.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in her name to Alzheimer's Association Louisiana Chapter, 831 Kings Highway, Ste 120, Shreveport, LA 71104, St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church, and/or St. Michael Catholic School.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley, 301 N. Ave F, Crowley, LA 70526, 337-783-3313, www.geesey-ferguson.com.

On Friday, September 13, 2024, Donald James Broussard of Abbeville, Louisiana passed away peacefully at the age of 92, in his home surrounded by his beloved family. A memorial mass will be held Friday, September 20, 2024 at 2pm at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Abbeville. Father Francois Sainte-Marie will officiate. Visitation will be held at the church an hour prior to the mass service with a rosary taking place at 1:30 p.m. Burial will take place after the mass service at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery.
Donald was born in Abbeville on March 17, 1932 to parents Ambrose Broussard and Pearl Stelly Broussard. He attended Mount Carmel elementary through high school, graduating from there in 1950. Upon graduating, he worked for a brief time for Dudley J. LeBlanc and Hadacol, working on the Hadacol train and driving trucks. He then enlisted in the United States Army, serving overseas in the Korean War. He loved telling stories of his time being stationed both in Japan and Korea, driving tanks and chauffeuring a Colonel.
Upon return from overseas, Donald began working for Bellsouth phone company. He was often referred to as “the telephone man” having installed many of the phone lines throughout the Acadiana area including at Abbeville General Hospital, Erath Hospital, and many of the local businesses. He was also an electrician by trade and continued to help many friends and family with small jobs at their homes and businesses long past his retirement from Bellsouth in 1995 after 40 years. He also was known for doing the electrical wiring for the May Festival at Mount Carmel and Vermilion Catholic for many years.
Besides spending time with his family, Donald enjoyed fishing, hunting and being outdoors. He spent lots of time at his camp in Boston, the beaches along the Gulf Coast, and on the family houseboat. He also loved taking his family and lots of friends out on the houseboat or to the camp to share with them his love of Louisiana’s Sportsmans paradise. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and the Telephone Pioneers of America, keeping involved in both organizations until later in life.
Donald is survived by his beloved wife of 49 years, Gloria Faye Connor Broussard as well as six of his seven children, Marcelle Broussard (Cammy), Tanya Broussard Trahan (Norman), Haley Broussard Leatherwood (Leslie), Lane Broussard, Craig Touchet, Michelle Touchet (Alvin) and his son-in-law Duane Saunier. He is also survived by eight of his nine grandchildren, Kimberly Saunier Boudreaux (Darby), Kyle Saunier (Bridget), Marina Leatherwood, Sierra Leatherwood, Brittney Howell (Richard), and Angelle Miller (Donavaughn), Kristen Romero (Luis) and Hunter Trahan as well as eight great-grandchildren, Catherine-Grace Saunier, Brea Saunier, Briggs Saunier, Sawyer Howell, Madelyn Howell, Camille Howell, Tyler Boudreaux, and Scarlett Miller. He also leaves behind his sister-in-law, Jackie Connor, many beloved nieces, nephews, godchildren, great-nieces and great-nephews. His passing will be felt greatly by his loyal dog, Pepper.
Already passed loved ones awaiting his arrival in heaven include his parents, Ambrose and Pearl Broussard, his daughter, Donna Broussard Saunier, his grandson, Casey Lewis Saunier, his sister Mary Delores Andrus and her husband Sheldon Andrus, and brother-in-law Jake Connor.
The family would like to thank all of the doctors and nurses that assisted with care of Donald over the last year of his life. A special thanks to Hospice of Acadiana for the wonderful care they provided in the last few weeks.

LEROY – The North Vermilion Lady Patriots defeated the Vermilion Catholic Lady Eagles Monday night in straight sets, 25-14, 25-18, 25-11, to earn their first victory of the young season.
 With the win, the Lady Pats (1-1) avenged a preseason loss to VC.  The Lady Eagles (1-4) defeated NV  2-0 last month in Abbeville when the two teams met for a scrimmage.
 Lady Pats head coach Ashly Boudreaux felt the difference for her team was preseason versus regular season.
 “You have to play in the summer, you have to scrimmage, and then you have to figure out who goes where and get the kinks out,” Boudreaux explained.  “This is the real deal now.  It’s time to show up and show out.  They did exactly that tonight.”
After playing to a 6-6 draw early on in the first set, VC took a 9-6 lead behind the strong serve of senior Marley Moore.  The Lady Pats roared back and tied the score at nine.
With the score knotted at 10, junior Zoe Harrington ran off five-straight points to put the Lady Pats in control 15-10.   NV outscored the Lady Eagles 10-4 the rest of the way to win the set.  
During the rally, the front-line combination of Harrington, senior Ava Denais, and junior Stevie Brasseaux started to assert themselves.
The trio blocked and altered shots on defense while hammering ball after ball on offense—that pressure caused VC problems the whole match.
“They’re three big hitters,” Boudreaux said.  “They’re some powerful girls.  They keep working hard and getting better.  Our kids have done a good job of getting one percent better every day.  That’s all you can ask for.”
The two teams played to a 10-10 tie to begin the second set before VC took a 12-10 lead and expanded it to 15-11.  The Lady Pats roared back, scoring nine straight points to take a 20-15 lead.
Once again, the play of the NV front line made the difference.  During the nine-point run, Harrington had three kills and one block while Denais had a kill and a block. Senior Anah Gibbs also had a kill and a block, while senior Charley Veazey added a kill and several sets.
The Lady Eagles battled back to 20-17 but couldn’t get any closer as NV claimed the six-point win.
After playing to a 3-3 tie early in the third set, the Lady Pats ran off 14 unanswered points to take a commanding 17-3 lead before cruising to the 14-point win in the final set.
Lady Eagles’ head coach Kristin Son credited the Lady Pats with playing an outstanding match. She felt that trying different lineup combinations affected her team’s play. She also said her team is too interested in personal glory and needs to focus on the team.
“North Vermilion looked like the team we saw in the summer, not in the scrimmage,” Son said.  “I played with the lineups to see who in what position will help us the most.  Also, we need to gel as a team and not worry about ourselves and our stats.  It needs to be a team effort.”
 “We did some great things.  We didn’t capitalize.  Once we cleanup what we can cleanup and learn to capitalize on all the great plays we made, we’ll be okay.”
The Lady Eagles were at Westminster Christian Academy on Tuesday before traveling to Delcambre to take on the Lady Panthers on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.  They finish the week on Thursday when Acadiana comes to Kim Guidry Gym.  The first serve is at 6 p.m.
The Lady Pats were at New Iberia on Tuesday.  They finish the week at home against the Eunice Lady Bobcats on Thursday at 5:30 p.m.