Elvenia Patin

Lydia - A home-going celebration Catholic Mass will be celebrated at 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Lydia for Elvenia Boutte Boyance Patin, 77, who went home to her beloved God in the early morning of Sunday March 24, 2024 enveloped in the loving arms of her daughter.

Interment will follow at St. Nicholas Cemetery in Patoutville, LA.

Reverend Randy Courville will be Celebrant.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday, April 5, 2024 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, at Pellerin Funeral Home, in New Iberia. A rosary, led by the Men’s Rosary Group, will be prayed at 6:00 pm on Friday. A eulogy will be delivered that evening. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 9:00 am until Noon.

Elvenia was born on January 18, 1947, in Jeanerette, LA. She began care giving to family members at the age of twelve and that experience shaped the person she would become. Elvenia was known for her selflessness and unyielding faith in God; her no-nonsense personality and acts of service. She married her great first love Willie in 1965, and was widowed a few years later. In December 2015, at the 50th anniversary of St. Nicholas Catholic Church, she was recognized as being a part of the first couple married there.

Elvenia’s strong will allowed her to build a life for herself and her firstborn, Clint. After a short stint in Houston, she came home to Grand Marais and remained a lifelong resident. Shortly thereafter she had her daughter, Tera. 

Elvenia then set her sights on Joe Patin from New Orleans, who was visiting his sisters at the time. They were trying to set him up with Elvenia’s neighbor who had not one bit of interest. However, Elvenia took it upon herself to give Joe a call and asked, “Do you have a date to the ball? If not, now you do.” From there, their lifelong love began. Elvenia and Joe were members of the Happy Throwers Mardi Gras Krewe for many years, and lived for Carnival season. Their favorite holiday was New Year’s Eve, where Elvenia would serve up a big pot of gumbo and homemade eggnog, with the night ending with Joe’s firework production. They were also big fans of the horse races. Elvenia was a longtime member of The Holy Name Society church organization.

No one escaped Elvenia’s house without eating her famous red beans, as she had those bad boys on tap! Her life was enriched even more with the entry of her grandchildren. She served as their caretaker, confidant, and best friend. By this time, she was facing chronic illness and always claimed that Taylor, her eldest grandchild, saved her life.

Survivors include children, Paul "Clint" Clinton Boyance and wife Tammy of New Iberia; Tera Christine Boutte Pearson and husband Toby of Broussard; and Edward “Eddie” Joseph Patin, Jr. and wife Sarah of New Iberia; as well as Meishea “Mush” Olivier of Jeanerette, whom she considered like another daughter and called her “lil' girl,”; sister, Victoria Oliver and husband, Ollie, of Jeanerette; grandchildren, Taylor Boyance, Brianna Provost Patin, and Carson Patin; and; Godchildren, Michael Raymond, Michelle Olivier Provost, and Johnathan Raymond.

Elvenia requested the following be acknowledged as her “special people,” who kept her going through the years: Victoria Olivier, Mag Olivier, Marlene Olivier, Sylvia Melancon, and Lovenia “Sis” Benoit.

Elvenia was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Boyance, Jr.; her parents, Leonard Boutte and Saraphine Frilot Boutte; two brothers, Peter Louviere, Jr. and Leroy James Boutte; a sister, Gloria Boutte Provost; maternal grandparents, Feliciane Borel Frilot and Aramis “Sam” Frilot; paternal grandparents, Alice Heilman and Ignace Boutte; and Godchild, LeeAnna Hills Cormier.

Elvenia also wanted to recognize special friends who transitioned before her, whom she missed immensely while alive: Louise Olivier, Carol Boutte, Mary Verdun, and Rita Rose.

Pallbearers will be: Clint Boyance, Eddie Patin, Toby Pearson, Carson Patin, Jonathan Olivier, and Calvin Frilot. 

Honorary pallbearers include: Edward "Joe" Joseph Patin Sr., Peter “Ollie” Olivier, Daniel Olivier, Brian Olivier, Nicholas Olivier, Michael Raymond, Reggie Provost, Elmore Patin, Jr., Michael Melancon, Paul Irving Olivier, Felix Jeanminette, Jerome Boutte, Dillyn Vital, London Umejiaku, Gregory Olivier, Herbert Boutte, Sr., Paul “T-Paul” Frilot, Jr., Charles Tauriac, Daniel Edgar, Felton Nelson, Lynn Thompson, Joey Verdun, Richard Ledet, Moral Boutte, Russell Boutte, and Achielle “AJ” Boutte.

The family would like to thank the staff members at, New Iberia Headache & Pain Management, Dr. Jeffery Chen, Dr. Richard Fei, Dr. Cory Lemoine, Dr. Patrick Moore, Camelot of Broussard and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, for giving Elvenia their care and compassion.