Howard Joseph Chiasson

A loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he died at 7:45 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, at Lane Regional Medical Center, Zachary. He was 86 and a native and resident of Baton Rouge. He was a retired heavy equipment operator and member of Local 406. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, having received a Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman's Badge and Good Conduct Medal. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Tuesday, Jan. 13, was from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. with recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. Visiting at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 14040 Greenwell Springs Road, on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., concelebrated by the Rev. Michael Moroney and the Rev. Thomas Duhé. Burial with military honors will follow in Resthaven Gardens of Memory. He is survived by his wife, Wilda Morain Chiasson; two daughters and sons-in-law, JoAnne and Donald Caillouet and Vicki and Ronald DeBate; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Terry and Patricia Boykin Chiasson, and Jeffrey Chiasson; seven grandchildren and spouses, Melissa and Keith Broussard and their children, Julianna and Greyson, Jody and Jeannie Caillouet and their children, Tré, Kai and Angeline, Michelle and Chuck Richard and their son, Brody, Nicholas and Joanie Caillouet and their children, Mackenzie and Chase, Stephen and Meagan DeBate and their daughter, Bliss, Matthew Chiasson and his fiancée, Crystal Medine, and Cory DeBate. He was preceded in death by his parents, Orville L. Chiasson and Dora Orgeron Chiasson; and nine sisters and five brothers. Pallbearers will be Jody Caillouet, Nicholas Caillouet, Stephen DeBate, Matthew Chiasson, Cory DeBate, Keith Broussard and Chuck Richard. Honorary pallbearers will Don Samson and Jack Samson. Special thanks to Dr. Kent Rhodes and to the ICU nurses and staff of Lane Regional Medical Center. He was a member of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.