RYNELLA – Funeral Services will be conducted for Mr. Elias Joseph “E. J.” DeRouen, age 87, at 1:30 pm Wednesday September 19, 2018 at St. Marcellus Catholic Church with Fr. James Nguyen officiating. Interment will follow at the church cemetery with military honors by the Iberia Veterans Honor Guard.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Tuesday with a Rosary at 6:00 pm. The funeral home will reopen at 8:00 am on Wednesday until service time.
A native and resident of New Iberia, Mr. DeRouen passed away on Monday September 17, 2018 at Iberia Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.
Born on February 22, 1931 to the late Elias and Lelia Laviolette DeRouen, Elias was one of three children. Elias, better known as “E.J.”, served his country during the Korean Conflict in the United States Army. During peacetime, he was stationed in Germany and at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas until his honorable discharge 1954. E.J was a proud and active member of many Veteran Organizations such as the VFW and American Legion. E.J, together with his wife, Verna, owned and operated E.J.’s Easy Shop for over forty years. Ever the entrepreneur, E.J also took up buying and selling real-estate. He successfully rented out over 20 properties. A loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother, E.J. will be truly and deeply missed by all those who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Verna Prados DeRouen; sons, Jason Paul DeRouen and wife Pamela, Errol James DeRouen and wife Lynette, and Royce Matthew DeRouen; daughter, Sheila Ann DeRouen Ball and husband Rodney; sister, Diana Lynn Smith and husband Harold; grandchildren, Erron DeRouen, Elias Bo Ball, Jarrod DeRouen, Alice Ball, Michelle DeRouen, Zachary Ball, Errik DeRouen, Chantelle DeRouen, and Hannah DeRouen; and nine great grandchildren with one more on the way.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elias and Lelia Laviolette DeRouen and brother, Ridgeway DeRouen, Sr.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Erron DeRouen, Errik DeRouen, Tyler DeRouen, Jarrod DeRouen, Elias Bo Ball, Zachary Ball, and Godchild, Ridgeway DeRouen, Jr.
Honorary pallbearers will be Johnny Boudreaux, Floyd Richard, Elverse Trahan, Allen Benoit, Carl Austin, Richard Stein, Joseph Gussy Breaux, and Lonnie, Calvin, Roland and Nolan Laviolette.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Carl Ditch and the staff of L-Tac of Iberia Medical for their kindness and care of Mr. E.J.
To view on-line obituary, video tribute and sign the guest register, please visit www.evangelinenewiberia.com.
Evangeline Funeral Home of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements.
