Alvin Joseph Francis Sr.

St. Martinville - Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, December 5, 2009, at Notre Dame Catholic Church in St. Martinville, for Alvin Joseph Francis, Sr., 68, who passed away on Thursday, November 26, 2009 at his residence. Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery in St. Martinville. Father Augustinus Seran, SVD, will officiate at the Funeral Mass. The Readers will be Debaney Francis and David Willis. Mr. Francis enjoyed working, repairing things, fishing and hunting. He had a passion for gardening and would often provide his family and friends with homegrown vegetables. Mr. Francis was a very caring and giving person - he would have given the shirt off his back to help anyone in need. Survivors include his wife, Sylvia L. Francis, of St. Martinville; three sons, Alvin Francis, Jr., of Dallas, TX, Brian Keith Francis, of New Iberia, an Calvin Francis, of Henderson; five daughters, Elizabeth Francis Winston, of Lafayette, Lisa Marie Boyd (Gary), of Breaux Bridge, Cynthia Benjamin (Ernest, Sr.), of Lafayette, Yvette Francis, of Parks, and Mona Faye Francis, of Breaux Bridge; one brother, Sterling Francis, of St. Martinville; 20 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Felecia Louis Francis; three brothers, Junius, Ivory, and Joseph Francis; and one sister, Anna Mae Martin. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. A Rosary will be recited at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning. Pall Bearers will be Ernest Benjamin, Sr., Alvin Francis, Jr., Calvin Francis, Melvin Francis, Sterling Francis, and Gary Boyd. Honorary Pall Bearers will be Horace Benjamin, Ronnie Francis, Ken Vallo, Ernest Benjamin, Jr., and Nathan Olivier. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements.