Verd Lee LeBlanc Lavergne, our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and dear friend, passed away peacefully September 30, 2023, gently closing her eyes to this earthly life and went on to her eternal glory. At her passing she was 84. Verd, affectionately known as Sis to many, was born December 22, 1938 in Duson, LA to the late John Voorhis LeBlanc, Sr. and the late Colastie Marie Richard LeBlanc and was one of eight children born to that union.
To know Sis was to know a selfless and caring person with a heart of gold, who lived a life serving her Lord and Savior and those around her. She was a longtime and faithful parishioner of St. Marcellus Catholic Church in Rynella where she served as a Lector and Choir member, and spent countless hours helping with decorating for holidays, cleaning and looking after the fresh flowers that adorned the Altar and surrounding areas. And if that wasn’t enough, she spent time cooking and serving the less fortunate at St. Francis Diner and prayed the Rosary with the St. Ann Altar Society for those who passed away.
Sis’s faith took her on many spiritual pilgrimages all over the world. Her children spoke of her trips to the Holy Land, the Vatican, and to Medjugorje, Bosnia Herzegovina to pray to the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. She and Aaron also traveled all over the US, but one of her favorite places to visit was to the EWTN studios where she met and visited with Mother Angelica.
Outside of her life of giving to her church and community, she lived that very same life with her family and friends. Sis absolutely adored her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren and spent as much time as she could with them. And she never forgot her extended family, checking in on everyone and attending special events in their lives. As her children said, “She was a mother to everyone” and loved you like her own. She brought the family together and made sure that we always stayed in touch through the years. Yes she had a fun side to her, and loved to joke and laugh. She even had a rather sarcastic side to her and spoke the truth to you so you knew just where you stood with her. But no matter the situation, Sis was your friend, mentor, spiritual advisor and “bonus mom”. It was just how she desired to live, sharing her faith and love to all she met.
Although there is so much more we could share about our mom’s wonderful life, we will end with this. Our hearts are sad for her passing, but we know that our dear mother is not gone from us, only gone on before us. We hold her memory and faith in our hearts and know that we will one day be reunited with her and all who have gone on before us. Until that precious time, rest well. We love you.
Those left to cherish her memory are her children, Troy Anthony Lavergne and wife Roxanne, Peter John Lavergne, Gretchen Ann Lavergne, Steven Mark Lavergne and wife Allison, and Bridget Lavergne Dauterive and husband Aubry; her grandchildren, Hope Sonnier (David), Jarrad Lavergne (Hannah), Brody Simpson (Megan), Tyler Lavergne and Baden Simpson; and eight great grandchildren, Rome Simpson, Cori Sonnier, Collyns Sonnier, Atlas Simpson, Connor Sonnier, Rayleigh Lavergne, Luke Lavergne and Harrington Lavergne.
Along with her parents, Sis is preceded in death by her husband, Aaron J. Lavergne, Jr.; her sisters, Mable LeBlanc Trahan ad Louise LeBlanc Comeaux; and her brothers, Clyde LeBlanc, Edward LeBlanc, Kerney LeBlanc, Louis LeBlanc and John LeBlanc, Jr.
A Mass of Christian Burial celebrating Sis’s life will be held at 1:30 pm Wednesday, October 4 at St. Marcellus Catholic Church, with Fr. James Nguyen as celebrant. Following the mass, she will be laid to rest alongside her husband at St. Marcellus Mausoleum.
A gathering of family and friends will be held at Evangeline Funeral Home on Tuesday October 3 from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm, with the Rosary led by the Men’s Rosary Group at 6:00 pm. Visiting hours will resume on Wednesday from 8:00 am until 1:00 pm dismissal.
Serving as pallbearers are Troy Lavergne, Jarrad Lavergne, Tyler Lavergne, Brody Simpson, Baden Simpson and Garrett LeBlanc. Honorary pallbearers are Aubry Dauterive, David Sonnier and Rome Simpson.
The Lavergne family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. Dot Landry (mom’s dear friend), Joan Bourgeois who took such loving care of her, and to the staff of Hospice of Acadiana for their care and compassion. You are all greatly appreciated.
Family and friends are encouraged to share their memories and condolences with the family by visiting Sis’s memorial page at www.evangelinenewiberia.com
Evangeline Funeral Home of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements.
