Verna Hebert LeBlanc

PARKS – A Funeral Mass to celebrate the life of Verna Hebert LeBlanc will be held at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Parks on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. Mrs. LeBlanc departed this life on Sunday, November 13, 2016 at home surrounded by loved ones.

Visitation will be at the Church from 8:00 am until time of service. A rosary will be recited 9:30 a.m.

Father Donovan Labbé will officiate at the Funeral Mass. Gerry LeBlanc, Kylie Theriot and Leah Guidry will read Scriptures. Gift bearers will be Claire Hebert, Christy LeBlanc and Jackie Courville.

Following the service, she will be laid to rest near her beloved husband, Lee Roy LeBlanc, in St. Bernard Mausoleum Number One.

Verna Hebert LeBlanc was born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana on October 13, 1922, the only child of Arnaud and Isabelle Babin Hebert. She graduated from Breaux Bridge High School as class salutatorian in 1939 and completed her education at Southwest Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in secretarial science.

She married Lee Roy LeBlanc on May 17, 1942. They spent many years together farming sugarcane until Lee Roy’s death in 1985. Verna worked for 52 years for the Department of Agriculture in Breaux Bridge at the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS office), now known as the Farm Service Agency. Many farmers and ranchers sought “Miss Verna’s” help when they had to report farming changes to the Department. She received numerous awards for her years of service.

After her retirement, Verna became a world-class traveler. Along with her traveling companions, brother in law and sister in law, Lester and Ida L. Guidry, and nieces, Linda G. Theriot-Hebert and Nancy G. Dore, she visited Italy, France, Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, The Netherlands, England and Ireland and The Holy Land. Her overseas travel stopped abruptly after 9/11, but that didn’t stop her! She continued with travels to Hawaii, Nova Scotia and Montreal, Canada; Tennessee, New York, Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. She and her traveling companions also made several trips to Wyoming, visiting various states along the way. She was especially fond of her annual Thanksgiving trip to Branson, Missouri and her journeys to Irondale, Alabama to visit with Mother Angelica. In January 2012 she went on her very first cruise to Cozumel, which was referred to as “Maw Maw’s Maiden Voyage”, with her daughters, daughters-in-law, and several grandchildren. She enjoyed another cruise in November 2014. She also continued her visits to Gulf Shores, Alabama, a destination enjoyed by the family since 1959 until 2014.

She was devoted to voluntary service at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Parks. She spent many hours in the Chapel of Adoration, and also helped in the front office and assisted the priest in residence. She served as Eucharist Minister for the shut-ins of the Church Parish. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of America, St. Gregory Court, and was devoted to the Holy Rosary. She also spent many hours in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the St. Bernard Chapel of Adoration in Breaux Bridge. In May 1997, she was the recipient of the Bishop’s Medal from the Diocese of Lafayette at the recommendation of Father Gregory Cormier, pastor of St. Joseph’s.

She was a giving and caring person and always found a way to help those in need. She was passionate in caring for her four-legged companions, Tiny, Jake, Precious, Taco, Wishy and Chewy. She never turned away a stray animal and called on Dr. Jackie Simon with Mary Guidry, niece, to provide the medical care that so many of these animals needed. She also enjoyed watching television and going to the Casino – mainly for the buffet!

Many will feel the loss of Miss Verna.

She is survived by her five children, Mary L. Terry, Jimmy LeBlanc and wife, Kathy; Isabelle “Kizzy” Theriot and husband, Darrell “T-Colo”; Theresa L. “Bee” Blankenship and Cathy L. Meche and husband, Carl, all of Breaux Bridge; and her daughter-in-law, Gerry B. LeBlanc of St. Martinville. Survivors also include 14 grandchildren, Claire L. Hebert, Christy LeBlanc, Jackie L. Courville, Dr. Jennifer LeBlanc Thibodeaux, Jeremy LeBlanc, Stephanie Myers Badeaux, Caitlin Johnson, Forrest Terry, Shawn LeBlanc, Kelsey LeBlanc, Tyler Theriot, Kylie Theriot, Chris Blankenship and Leah Guidry; and 12 great grandchildren, Lauren Mire; Ryan, Shelby and Jake Gorman; Andrew and Carly Courville; Joseph Jonathan “JJ” Badeaux; Ava LeBlanc; Cole and Evelyn Theriot; Bella Guidry and Alex Latiolais.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Lee Roy LeBlanc, her parents, Arnaud and Isabelle Babin Hebert, her precious son, Dennis Lee LeBlanc; her son-in-law, Don Terry and her loyal and protective companion dogs, Tiny, Jake, Precious, Taco and Wishy.

Pallbearers will be Shawn LeBlanc, Tyler Theriot, Ryan Gorman, Jeremy LeBlanc, Jake Gorman and Andrew Courville.

Honorary pallbearers are Darrell Theriot, Carl Meche, Mike Hebert, Robbie Courville, Chris Blankenship and Joey Badeaux.

The family would like to extend their most sincere and special thanks to Dr. Debra Durham and her office staff, and Dr. Scott Neusetzer, Dr. Akshey Gupta and Dr. Vernon Valentino and Hospice of Acadiana. Special thanks to her devoted caregiver, Vanessa Rodriguez for the kindness and compassion given to her in her time of need.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the St. Martin Parish Animal Shelter or St. Joseph Catholic Church or St. Louis Chapel, Parks, Louisiana.

To view online obituary, video tribute and sign the guest register, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to her granddaughter, Kelsey LeBlanc, of Evangeline Funeral Home, Inc. of St. Martinville.