Rafael Gregorio Bedia

NEW IBERIA – Funeral Services will be conducted for Mr. Rafael Gregorio Bedia, age 94, at 11:00 am Thursday, September 22, 2016, at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church with Fr. Mario Romero officiating. Interment will follow at Nativity of Our Lady Mausoleum.

Visitation will be held at Evangeline Funeral Home from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Wednesday with a Rosary at 7:00 pm. The funeral home will reopen at 8:00 am on Thursday until service time.

A native of Havana, Cuba and resident of New Iberia, Mr. Bedia, passed away at 11:35 pm on Sunday, September 18, 2016, at Iberia Medical Center.

Rafael, the eldest of four children, was born on November 17, 1921 in Havana, to María Pérez Bedia from Barcelona Spain, and José Bedia from Havana, Cuba. Despite the economic hardships of the depression and through the generosity of a fellow Cuban, Rafael attended and was an honor graduate of Belén Jesuit Preparatory School and La Universidad de La Habana in Havana, Cuba. In 1947 he won a two-year agronomy-chemistry-biology scholarship to LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He returned to Cuba and taught at Belén.

As an engineer in Cuba, Rafael was the supervisor of a cooperative association that regulated sugar mills. In 1960 Rafael left behind a very comfortable lifestyle as a Design Civil Engineer for the Chas-Martin Company in Havana and made many sacrifices to bring his young family to the United States to escape the oppression of the Castro regime in Cuba. Despite his advanced college degrees, he worked parking cars and in a glass factory to support his family when that was the only work available. He then traveled to Louisiana seeking work in the sugar industry, his area of expertise. In 1964 he was instrumental in establishing Cajun Sugar Co-op in New Iberia where he worked as the Chief Chemical Engineer. Later, at Sterling Sugars in Franklin, he worked as a chemist. He returned to Cajun Sugar as Chief Engineer. He then became a consultant at Iberia Sugar before retiring in 1985. Along with his family, he proudly became a United States citizen in July of 1971. At Teche Vocational School he taught adult Spanish and math night classes in 1972. For many years Mr. Bedia was a Eucharistic Minister at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church. After retirement Rafael, affectionately known as Papy, enjoyed volunteering at St. Edwards Catholic School. He was a family man with a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. For 39 years he was married to Inés Álvarez Bedia.

Rafael is survived by his three sons, Rafael Ignacio Bedia and wife Loretta of Roanoke, VA, Jorge Ignacio Bedia and wife Sarah of Mobile, AL, and Carlos Ignacio Bedia of New Iberia; his daughter, Inés María “Nena” Bedia Suit and husband Kevin of New Iberia; grandchildren, Mary B. Bushkar and husband Jud, Rosa B. Petrotta and husband Brian, Rafael P. Bedia, Lucas C. Bedia, Andrew N. Bedia, Carlos M. Bedia and wife Jackie, Steven M. Bedia, Benjamin R. Suit, and Zachary J. Suit; and great grandchildren, Aubrey Petrotta, Jacob Petrotta, Harper Petrotta, Henry Bushkar, Isaac Bushkar, and Serena Bedia; his brother-in-law, Antonio Álvarez, and wife Amparo Álvarez; and his godchild and niece, María Elena Consuegra.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Inés Álvarez Bedia; parents, José Bedia and María Pérez Bedia; sisters, Bertica Bedia, Georgina Bedia Méndez, and Ángela Bedia Rovirosa.

Pallbearers will be Rafael P. Bedia, Lucas C. Bedia, Andrew N. Bedia, Carlos M. Bedia, Steven M. Bedia, Benjamin R. Suit, and Zachary J. Suit.

Papy was forever thankful to the families of Lindsey Dumond, Jack Broussard, Jules Schwing, and David Treen who made possible his mother’s arrival in the United States.

The family would like to especially thank Dr. José Mata, Dr. Hale, Dr. George Cousin, Dr. Leslie Greco, the nurses and staff of Iberia General Hospital and Heart of Hospice, as well as all of Papy’s devoted caregivers and nurses at Consolata Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Edwards Catholic School, Catholic High School of New Iberia or Consolata Home.

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

Evangeline Funeral Homes, Inc. of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements.