Dr. Mike M.D. Halphen

Michael F. Halphen MD, known by many simply as Dr. Mike, went home to be with his heavenly father on November 30, 2015 after being a good and faithful servant here on earth. Dr. Mike was born on May 17, 1933 to Edgar and Orlean Halphen who preceded him in death, in St. Martinville, La. and was 82 at the time of his death. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM Thursday, December 3, 2015 at St. Peter Catholic Church in New Iberia. Entombment will follow in the St. Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville. A gathering of family and friends will be held Wednesday , December 2, 2015 from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. A rosary will be prayed at 7:30 PM Wednesday. Visitation will continue on Thursday from 8:30 AM until 10:00 AM at St. Peter Catholic Church in New Iberia. Dr. Mike is survived by the love of his life and wife of fifty seven years, Tommye and his greatest joy, his five children and their spouses: Ann and her husband Bill, Stephanie, Michael and his wife Jamie, Ed and his wife Helen Mary and Renee and her husband Todd. Dr. Mike was known to his thirteen beloved grandchildren as Pops: Sara and Caroline Schulenberg, Ginger, Katie and Christopher Mckay, Elizabeth and husband Jeremy Olinde, Matthew and Emily Halphen, Andrew and Mary Catherine Halphen and Clare, David and Michael Broud. Dr. Mike is survived by one great grandchild: Cole Michael Olinde. Dr. Mike is also survived by his two brothers: Dr. Gerald Jay Halphen and his wife , Betty and Charles B. Halphen and his wife Greta . Dr. Mike was preceded in death by Louise Lou Beslin Dauterive who he considered his sister as she was raised with he and his brothers from a very young age . Dr. Mike had a very strong faith which began as an alter server at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St Martiville and continued as a life long parishioner of St. Peters Catholic Church in New Iberia where he was active in the parish including being a member of the parish counsel and a Eucharistic minister . One of Dr. Mikes favorite places in the world was Our Lady of the Oaks Retreat House where he made yearly retreats for over forty years with a group of men from New Iberia. Dr. Mike was a member of the St. Peters High School (now Catholic High) graduation class of 1951 and remained close friends with his classmates until his death. After high school, Dr. Mike enrolled at LSU in Baton Rouge and after 3 years was accepted to LSU medical school in New Orleans. Following completion of medical school, Dr. Mike completed a residency in pediatrics. After residency, Dr. Mike served in the United States Air Force at Carswell Air Force Base in Ft. Worth , Texas. In 1964, Dr. Mike returned to New Iberia to join his brother , Jay, in the practice of pediatrics at the Childrens clinic next to the old Dauterive Hospital and then on Lewis Street . Dr. Mike treated hundreds of children over his thirty year practice. After retirement, still feeling the call to serve, Dr. Mike and Mrs. Tommye spent a year in Oregon with AmeriCore Vista, two trips to Mexico and a nine week stay in the Appalachians to work at a camp for underprivileged children. Dr. Mike and Ms. Tommye most recently made trips to Haiti to help Fr. Glenn Meaux and the children of Haiti carrying bags of medicine in their suitcases. Dr. Mike was allowed to visit the orphanage of Mother Theresa in Haiti where he was deeply affected by the children who were there. In addition to his mission work, one of Dr. Mikes most gratifying experiences was as a volunteer physician with Hospice of Acadiana.. Dr. Mike also volunteered at St. Francis Diner and the Disch-DeClouet Social Service Center. Dr. Mike received numerous awards over his lifetime including being named 2006 Outstanding Citizen by the Iberia Chamber of Commerce and 2011 Community Foundation of Acadiana Philanthropic Award . Whether civic or religious-local or national , Dr. Mikes quite voice , unassuming character and unconditional commitment to those in need spanned his lifetime and has been a catalyst for others to get involved. The family of Dr. Mike ask that, in his honor, please preform an act of charity for someone you do not know. Donations in Dr. Mikes honor can be made to: CHS of New Iberia, Hospice of Acadiana and Community Foundation of Acadiana. The family of Dr. Mike would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Carl Ditch and Dr. Gerard Sigue who went above and beyond the call as Dr. Mikes doctors. Also special thanks to the four angels who were sent to his family weeks before his death to help us care for him: Angel Harris, Karen Gage, Shirley Butler and Anita Jones. The family would also like to thank Hospice of Acadiana and the nurses and doctors who cared for Dr. Mike in his last days just as he had cared for others. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331, is in charge of the arrangements.