God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be. So He put His arms around you and whispered "come to me." With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
I love you Paw Paw. You will be greatly missed.

Mr Willard will be missed  by many. I looked up at Mr Willard. He was a icon of what a perfect family man should be. He brought up his children with the right morales.....Robert "Dale" Cox. Cox's Meat Market

We were so sorry to hear of the loss of your loved one. We're sending you a hug from afar.

I will miss that booming, raspy voice of Paw-Paw's...the many hours of rocking on the porch discussing politics over wine with ice...and that endless supply of animal crackers served on fine china. What a wonderful example he was for all of us. Maw-Maw sure did pick a good one. We are all so blessed to have known him! Hope you are catching some big fish up there, Paw-Paw!

Paw Paw meant so much to so many.  He was the beloved husband of one, dad "Pop" "The Ol Man" to ten, Paw Paw to many, and Willie B and dear friend to everyone's life he touched!  The so many memories of our time spent together are forever locked away in my mind continuing to bring me joy and also guidance on how to conduct myself as a Bergeron father.  

Cousin Mark - your remembrance of one of the many Paw Paw expeditions is a Willie B classic and reading it had me back in that moment of joy.

Paw Paw - you are with us forever and Maw Maw we all love you very very much.

Papa Bergeron was one of the greatest men I have ever known. He was also a great role model for me. I never heard or saw him do bad things. He truly had an amazing life and i know for a fact that he had no regrets. he was tuff but had a great heart i know he went straight to heaven. i will alaways miss him. he was my hero. he will alaways stay in my heart until the day i go see him in heaven. he also gave me my nickname "Termite" thats something special i will never forget, and when people call me that i will alaways think of him. For now on, every baseball game i play will be for him and i know he will have a front row seat watching me in heaven.

Paw Paw was the beloved husband of one, Dad "Pop" "The Ol' Man" to ten, Paw Paw to many, and Willie B and friend to all of us!  The many great memories of time spent with him & Maw Maw and our wonderful blessed family will be with me forever.  Bergeron Family we are so blessed and Maw Maw we Love You.

Paw Paw Bergeron was such a great person and I am so honored that he is my great grandpa. I never saw paw paw that much, but whenever I did, he was always smiling and gave the biggest hugs in the world. I always loved the porch at his house, which is full of memories that I will cherish forever! Even though he is gone, he will never be forgotten and I will make sure to send him a prayer everynight. I love you Paw Paw!:)

I met the Bergeron family 25 years ago as a teenager. What an overwhelming experience. And yet also so amazing.  I think the Bergerons are such a special family, and to think it all began with Paw
 Paw and Maw Maw Bergeron. I loved gathering at their house for the family Christmas Eves, complete with the special egg nog. And the joy and laughter was everywhere. Wine time on the porch was another favorite. I love that these traditions will always be a part of all of us. I love that I became a part of the family. I love that my husband had such an amazing role model in his grandfather, who passed that tradition on to his dad, and now he himself is an amazing dad who will pass on to his own children the Bergeron example of how to be a wonderful person in life. Cookie's eulogy said it so beautifully....Paw Paw Bergeron was a man who loved his family and his family completely knew that. He would always be there for them. And the most amazing thing is that although he is no longer here with us in body, his lessons, values, love of life, and spirit will always be with us. As Father said in the mass, "memories are powerful things." 
With love,
 Cassi

If anyone has lived a full life, it would be my grandpaw - "Pa Paw".  What a funny man we'll all miss.  

He loved his 'Snicker' bars and Cadbury Eggs.  He'd always tell you, "You know what they say about Cadbury Eggs?  They're very, very, Cadbury!"

What I'll miss most about Pa Paw was how he rhymed just about anything.  On our way fishing to Port Sulphur with my cousin Patrick, he would get so impatient at a red light, and if it took to long, he'd shout, "Ole meanie', turn greenie'!" And magically, it would.  Patrick and I would bust out laughing.  He drove slow despite he was always in a rush and when other people passed us, he'd say, "Man, they passed us like we were stuck in reverse!  Like we're tied to a stump!" and he would laugh along with us.  That particular fishing trip was one I'll never forget.  We started the day with a healthy breakfast of donuts and chocolate milk, and after a couple hours in his small wood boat bobbing around, I didn't feel so good.  I let him know, but what good would that do?  I ended up feeding the fish overboard and Pa Paw reaction was, "Gott doggit! Pull up the anchor Patrick, we gotta get this boy back to the peir!"  He figured all I needed was something to eat for lunch as it would settle my stomach, so he pulled out his famous lunch, potted meat sandwiches and orange soda!  Need to say, the drive back wasn't any better.  I ended up throwing up in his Ford truck floor board!  He couldn't wait to get me back to the house, and when I got there, he told Ma Maw, "This boy got the speckle-itist!"  They both shouted with laughter!, I did not.  

I loved spending time at his house and enjoyed working on projects around the yard.  He loved his large family and knew what everyone was up to, including his grandkids and great grandkids.  He was the the perfect grandpa and I am so greatful for having known him.  I'm proud to say he was my grandpa.  I'll miss you Pa Paw!

Here is the eulogy written by my father, Willard Bergeron, Jr.:

“Willie B”

Willie B. was the absolute, unadulterated, pure essence of humanity.  There was no pretense, he was perfectly happy being what he was.  He simply loved life and he lived his simply.  He was married for 68 years to his one and only Marie and I never heard a cross word between them. For those wise enough to know that happiness is all that really matters he gave the perfect example for an excellent life.  No time was wasted participating in the race that arrogance and egotism would have us run.  He knew that most of the things we might want in this world offer only hollow and empty promises.  He didn’t need a 100’ yacht, a 16’ aluminum bateau with a 40 horse mercury was all he needed, and put it in the waters back of Golden Meadow with Tony on board, priceless!
 
Hurricane Betsy came ashore in 1964.  We took shelter in the auditorium at Destrehan High School.  Pop parked in the parking lot behind the cafeteria.  It was covered with pea gravel.  The winds came and Pop’s car was “sandblasted” from the east.  The eye of the hurricane passed and the winds came again.  Pop’s car was “sandblasted” from the west.  Within a week both sides of the car were covered in rust.  He drove the thing for over a year in that condition, he couldn’t afford to have it painted, but he just kept on going. 
He didn’t take anything too seriously, except his duty to care for his family and of course the weather conditions when he was fishing. I never saw anybody so scared of a rain cloud over the water. He taught us not to take ourselves too seriously.  When I graduated from college he told me I was the stupidest one of all having to take more time than any of the others to get through school. We both laughed, he was so pleased with himself with that zing.  When Tim and Gregory had completed their time in the Navy Willie declared, “I sent the Navy two sons they sent back two bums.”   Now if we had more time here we could spend the rest of the day recounting these Willieism’s.

I am sure that each of the 10 of us remembers some particular day when we did some particular thing, the remedy of which required Willie to step in and apply some form of discipline.  Willie was usually up to the task but the thing about Willie’s discipline was that it was  momentary and fleeting.  It was born and executed in the frustration of the moment.  The next day you woke up with a clean new slate.  The previous day’s discretions were totally forgotten.  You were free to either redeem yourself or screw up all over again.  It was one of the most amazing aspects of his character.

And how did he manage to get through those day to day trials carrying 10 kids on his back!  I’m sure it wore him down and I’m sure it took its toll but at the end of the day what doe’s Willie do?  He comes in singing, “I’m Willie B, the man from the muskateetee”.  Keeping time by snapping his finger like Frank Sinatra, got this little bounce in his step, like he don’t have a care in the world.   He was a rock, and he was always there.  No question in our minds as to whether he would be there taking care of us, taking care of business and doing his duty.  We grew up sharing our toys, our bikes, and our clothes.  In regard to worldly things we had what we needed.  But the greatest gift to us was never having to worry as to whether we would be OK, we had Willie.

We never heard him complain about his situation in life, he just took things as they came.  Never heard him whine or wish that things could have been different or express some regret for some past decision.  He always did what had to be done without question.  He would take us to work with him when we were very young and he showed us how to build houses from the bottom to the top, from inside to outside.  Never told us how, just showed us how.  The truth of life was laid in front of us that way and it helped us become independent and self sufficient.  There were no surprises when we grew up.

He joined the Army during WWII, and he served under Gen. George Patton.  He participated in the Normandy invasion, went in on the 18th day after Dday.  When he arrived US forces were bogged down in the Bocage, an area laced with hedgerows that had grown for centuries in and amongst the stone borders of the agricultural fields there.  They presented an impenetrable obstacle and the US Army could not advance.  And from the history that I have read the situation was desperate.  A major in Pop’s unit came to him with a scribbled little drawing and asked him if he could build a wooden prototype of the thing drawn on the paper.  Pop was the Company’s carpenter and the drawing was of a attachment that could be bolted to the fronts of our tanks.  It would enable them to “bulldoze” their way right through the hedgerows.  Pop asks the Major, “where am I going to get the wood”?  The Major says, “that’s your problem, just do it.”  So Pop built the prototype out of some boards that he and a buddy peeled off of some wooden crates they found lying on the beach.  Welders using Pop’s prototype fabricated the actual “hedgerow cutters” by dismantling and using the metal obstacles that the Germans placed in the surf, in hopes of preventing the Americans from coming ashore.  Turned out the thing was a great success and when they were put on our tanks the Army began to advance immediately.
He told me that it wasn’t until the end of the war that he even saw a live German soldier.  I said, “I’ll bet you saw some dead ones” and he replied, “yeah, I buried a lot of them”.  And what did he have to say about the German soldiers?  He said they were the saddest thing that he had ever seen given the condition they were in at that time and he actually said he felt sorry for them.   After 4 years in a war against the Germans he had the capacity to feel sorry. There wasn’t a mean bone in his body and I never saw him hurt anything or anyone.
So here we are, at the inevitable moment none of us ever wanted to see.  Pop is gone, we wish we could have him back, but it’s impossible.  We’ve all stored this in the back of our minds, did we convince ourselves he could live forever?  It’s strange, almost unbelievable.  Just keep in mind he lived a long, healthy, independent and most importantly, a HAPPY life.  And keep in mind that it wasn’t his  spirit that failed, it was his body.  He fought for his life till the end and we know for certain he did not want to leave us.  If it’s true that how we live our lives and how we treat each other is directly proportional to the size of the hole that our passing will leave in the hearts of those we knew and loved, Willie’s passing will leave a hole the size of the moon in the hearts of us all.

As the days and weeks pass, and as you return to life's routine, may you continue to feel comforted by the love and support of family and friends.

I am so very proud to be a part of the Bergeron family. Paw paw was such a wonderful example of what a true American and Christian man should be. When I was asked at one of my residency interviews who my mentors were, I naturally responded that my grandparents were and are the most self- sufficient people I have ever known. I have so many wonderful memories of spending time with all of my cousins at Maw maw and Paw paw's house.  At the end of my life,  I know that my time spent with my family will be the only thing that ever mattered.  Thank you Paw paw for being such an inspiration to us all!

One of my great memories of PaPaw is the many times he took me and others fishing for speckeled trout. Lenny and I would load up in the old Ford pickup with PaPaw to begin the long drive to Elmer's Island near Grand Isle to surf fish.  PaPaw at that time did not have a boat, but always showed us how to have a great time catching fish.  I remember stopping by Dufrene's Bakery along the bayou for a donut and chocolate milk for breakfast, and to buy ice to preserve the catch.  After a sucessful day of fishing, he would load us and the gear up and head back home.  I know he was really tired when we arrived home but always had energy to clean the fish.  He very much enjoyed an opportunity to share his catch with whom ever visited.  PaPaw always seemed to know how to rig the lines for catching fish, regardless of the conditions or time of year.  

I really have been blessed to have such a great man for a grandfather.  I hope and pray that I may be such a grandfather to my grandchildren some day just as he was to me.

I will never forget Paw Paw sitting in his chair telling us to come see.  I will miss fishing with him and the way he always called my brother "Timothy Paul" even though that wasn't his name.  We are so sorry Maw Maw!

Paw Paw will be deeply missed, he had a beautiful spirit that shined through.  He was a very jovial man and you felt that love and happiness anytime you were around him.  We were lucky to have him and because of him so many of us are here today.  He leaves behind a great legacy that will keep growing with each passing year.  I feel blessed to be in such a wonderful, loving and vast family.  We come together when times are tough and we know we can count on each other for love and support.  Paw Paw will never be forgotten, he lives on through us.

Maw Maw My thoughts are with you and the family and I am so sorry not to be there in person to give my condolences. Paw Paw was such a wonderful sweet man and I have so many memories of his beautiful smile.  I am so sorry he has passed and I will miss him very much. Much love to you and the family ~
Love Amanda

I loved the way he always had a smile in his voice.

Aunt Marie and family,My prayers and blessings are with you at this time. Although I may not have seen you all very often, my mom (Annette Savoie Cognevich)always kept us informed of everyone..He will be deeply missed. I can still remember all the times we visited at Maw Beregeron's home in Lockport. It was always fun to see all of you. Take care and may God bless you all..Love

Mark,

So sorry to hear of the passing of your grandfather.  I will keep you and your family in my prayers.

To Mrs. Bergeron,Monica, Francis, Leonard and all of the Bergeron family, my deepest sympathy and prayers to all of you. Edgar Guedry

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Dear Aunt Marie & All my dear cousin,
We are so sorry to hear about Uncle Willard's passing.Please know that you all are in our prayers and may God carry you though this difficult time.
Love,

Will and Family please accept our deepest sympathies.  Our prayers are with you and your family.

Lee Ann Weber and Yvonne Watts

Will and Family please accept our deepest sympathies. Our prayers are with you and your family.

Lee Ann Weber and Yvonne Watts

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the Bergeron family on the loss of Mr. Willard.  Memories never fade, and faith lessens the sorrow.  Deepest sympathy to all.

Dear Bergeron Family, 
Your families will all be in the Beckler families prayers. We are so sorry for your loss. Heaven has gained another angel. God bless you all in this difficult time.
With Deepest Sympathy,
The Beckler Family

Dear Aunt Marie and family,
We are so sorry to hear of Uncle Willard's passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. God Bless you all. Love, Dottie & Norman Henry

To Monica and all of the Bergeron Family,
My condolences to all of you at this difficult time. May you cherish his memory always.

To Aunt Marie and all my cousins. I was so sorry to hear about Uncle Willard. Although I will not be able to make the services tomorrow, my thoughts and prayers will be with all of you. Charmaine Cambre Beverung, Bay St. Louis, Ms

Dear Aunt Marie and Cousins,
My deepest sympathy to all of you for your loss. You were blessed, like us with Mom, to have Parin for a long time. I will always remember us 16 kids and our parents in that one house visiting, laughing, playing....We had great times and I miss you all so much. I am sorry I will not be with you physically as I am now living in Wisconsin but I will be with you all in my thoughts and prayers.

To the Bergeron Family,
I am so sorry for the loss of your father.  Living next door to Pat and Glenda for 37 years I have gotten to know Pat's family and know the wonderful relationship you all share.  As you go through the next few days I know that you will all lean on each other for love and support.  My thoughts and prayers will be with you.  Your father was a special man and will be greatly missed.  God be with you all.  
Pat and Glenda, Carroll and I are here for you if you need us.  
Love, 
Mickey

Paw paw we know you are watching over us.  You will be missed by many and thank you for all the things you have done for your family. You were a great man and inspiration. Love you!!

Mark,

My heart goes out to you and your family during this time of great loss.  You're in my thoughts and prayers  

Sincerely, 

Pat Walls

Grandpa, sorry to here of your father passing. You and your family have our deepest sympathies.

Francis and Gail and Family our prayers and blessings go out to you at this time.

The Bodin Family

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.  Praying for your family alwasy.

Francis & Gail,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during your time of sorrow and greif. May God Bless You!

OBITUARIO

Willard J. Bergeron Sr.

4 septiembre, 1918 – 18 febrero, 2011

H.C. Alexander Funeral Home

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