Ernie Perez would like to let you know that his work here is done. He has landed. He received a call - an offer he couldn’t refuse - for an appointment from which he will not be returning. His new assignment takes him to wonderful new places where he will be reunited with family and friends he has not seen in a long time, and where he will undoubtedly continue providing life coaching and job placement counseling. He spent a lifetime building the perfect resume for this job.
While Ernie would not want any special recognition, his family is proud of his life’s accomplishments. He spent 51 years with the love of his life, Therese Lindell, raised three amazing children, and had four wonderful grandchildren. To the extended family, he was known as the tickle monster and birthday elf. In his constant search for knowledge, he earned three degrees in engineering and business. In his seven years of service to his country, he attained the rank of Captain in the US Air Force. In his 30-year business career with ExxonMobil, he held various positions from a Project Engineer to Director for International Recruiting. Through his work at ExxonMobil and close relationship with the job placement center at Louisiana Tech, his alma mater, he has been credited with recruiting some of the greatest technical leaders in the industry.
Throughout his life’s journey, Ernie was an eternal optimist, always passionate about helping others, and never afraid to question conventional wisdom or share his perspective. He volunteered countless hours as a counselor at the Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention hotline in Baton Rouge. He devoted more than fourteen post-retirement years to various Houston programs including Career Decisions Workshop, Between Jobs Ministry and The Work Faith Connection. He assisted people seeking first time employment, provided advice to those who had been laid-off, and gave support & special attention to individuals with impediments to job placement. Many people received hours of counseling at his “offices”, the kitchen table or the local Starbucks. While his offices will be relocated, know that he will be encouraging you to live your best life, to assume the news is good unless you hear otherwise, and to know that he will always be listening.
In lieu of flowers, please update your resumes, be true to who you are, provide service to others, and do something nice for yourself. That’s what Ernie would have wanted.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Service in the Chapel of Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans on Monday, April 30, 2018 at 2:00pm. Visitation will begin at 12:00pm. Interment will follow the service in Metairie Cemetery.
The family invites you to share your thoughts, fond memories, and condolences online at www.lakelawnmetairie.com .
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18