Francis L. "Frank" Bergeron

"Francis L. "Frank" Bergeron died on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at age 79. He died at his son's home in Lake Charles surrounded by his children following a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He was born February 20, 1937 in Crowley, Louisiana in Acadia Parish. He graduated from Crowley High School and Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He worked for different companies in Lake Charles, Monroe and Baton Rouge and established his own consulting engineering company, Petro/Chem Consulting Services, in 1981. He particularly enjoyed the challenges and collegiality he experienced working at ExxonChemical for many years as a consulting engineer. He was a resident of Baton Rouge until being displaced from his home of 43 years by the historic flooding of August 2016. Frank was a devoted husband and father. He was an active member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church since 1973 where he served in many capacities including: Grand Knight for Knights of Columbus Council #5530, as a lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and head of the Silver Fellowship Ministry. He had a deep devotion to his Catholic faith and was a member of the Serra Club, attended annual retreats at Manresa House of Retreats and was a committed Adorer of the Blessed Sacrament. He was very active in his children's schools and activities serving as a volunteer coordinator of intramural sports at St. Thomas More, coached numerous athletic teams for his children, and was a member of the Catholic High School Mens' Club. He was an avid fan of the University of Notre Dame and made annual pilgrimages to South Bend to cheer for his beloved Fighting Irish. He was a member of the Notre Dame Club of South Louisiana. He was an avid reader of politics and history and loved traveling to religious and historical sites, especially those commemorating the War Between the States. He was a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and Sons of the American Revolution. He enjoyed grilling and cooking. Frank was a gentle, cheerful, charitable, patient, intelligent and good-natured man who beautifully lived out the values of his patron saint, St. Francis of Assisi. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Paul S. and Ann R. Bergeron, of Baton Rouge; son, Dr. Michael A. Bergeron, of Lake Charles; daughter, Charlotte Y. Bergeron, of Baton Rouge; granddaughter, Summer McElwee, of Lake Charles, and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 45 years, Frances Garcie Bergeron, and his parents, Stanley and Susan Bergeron of Crowley. Special thanks to Rev. Eddie Martin, Associate Pastor of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, and Darrin Breaux, M.D. Many thanks to all of his family and friends who helped and prayed for Frank following the flooding of his home and during his illness. Honorary Pallbearers. Judge Don Aaron, Gary Bergeron, Lee Jude Bergeron, Bill Burt, Don Broussard, Merlin Green, Jimmy LaFleur, Mickey Schimemi. Pallbearers: Charlie Brickner, David Garcie, Josh Garcie, Don Hains, Charles "Chuck" Rand, Jr., Alan Valentine. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home at 11000 Florida Boulevard on Friday, October 21, from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. with recitation of the rosary at 7:00 p.m. Visitation resumes on Saturday, October 22, from 11:30 until the 12:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Thomas More Catholic Church with Rev. Eddie Martin, celebrant. Gravesite committal will follow at St. George Catholic Church Cemetery-Mausoleum. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 2990 Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 or http://support.pancreatic.org/goto/franklbergeron or the Catholic High School Advancement Office, P.O. Box 65004, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70896.