Eve Thevenet

BreauxBridge - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., on Monday, August 1, 2011, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge, for Eve Lenore Thibodeaux Thevenet, 79, who passed away on Thursday, July 28, 2011 after an extended illness, at Lafayette General Medical Center. Fr. Michael Champagne will officiate at the funeral Mass with her nephew, Deacon Marcel 'Butch' Hebert, concelebrating. Scriptures will be read by Addie Thevenet and Katie Abraham. Gift Bearers will be Ashley A. Johnston, and Ashtyn and Maddie Raxsdale. Musical selections will be performed by Jodi Bollich, accompanied by Beth Hebert on the organ. Her Eulogy will be delivered by her granddaughter, Tarah Raxsdale. Entombment will follow at St. Bernard Mausoleum No. 1. 'Mama T,' as she was best known by her family and many friends, acquired her nickname while she was teaching a religion class to 'her babies,' developmentally disadvantaged children, and they couldn't pronounce her name, so hence that name 'Mama T' became known to everyone in south Louisiana. She was a parishioner of St. Bernard Catholic Church, as well as an adorer in the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration. A faithful and devout Catholic she took several trips to the Holy Land, which renewed her spirit and faith in God even more each time. She had a deep love for the Blessed Virgin Mary and prayed the Rosary to Her daily, with great passion and devotion, also offering her prayers to anyone in need. When asked by one of her grandchildren, 'Mama T, why do you sometimes go to church twice a day?' She simply responded, 'Everybody needs prayers.' The few free moments she had, she spent making handmade Rosaries to ship overseas. In an effort to bring joy and happiness into everyone's lives, 'Mama T' welcomed many opportunities to transform herself into a happy clown, the 'Crazy Rabbit,' at Easter time, a 'Witch' for Halloween, or 'Mama Santa Claus' over the Christmas holidays - her smile was infectious and warmed the hearts of many on any given occasion or festival event. She and her seven children supported M.D.A., as well as many other non-profit organizations, by holding bike-a-thons and other fundraising activities throughout the area. Simply put, she loved people and loved doing things for people. She selflessly gave of her time assisting many physically and/or mentally handicapped, homebound, and elderly persons, and volunteered countless hours to Special Olympics - those kids held a special place in her heart. Mama T also volunteered her time at St. Agnes Nursing Home and with the schools her children and grandchildren attended: Breaux Bridge High, Carencro Catholic, St. Cecilia, and St. Bernard Catholic School in Breaux Bridge , in which she was recognized with a 'Special Service Award' in 1990 for the outstanding and dedicated service she provided to the school. Mama T was very active in the lives of her children and grandchildren, following them in all of their sporting activities, whether it was sitting in the stands cheering them on or working the concession booths. She was instrumental in establishing the Summer Youth Baseball Program in Breaux Bridge, mostly because half of the team was her own children. Her social work throughout the Acadiana area has garnered her numerous citizenship awards, including the Kiwanis Citizen of the Year, the Woodmen of the World award, an award from Bishop Harry Flynn, and the 1988 and 1989 Fraternalist of the Year honor bestowed by the Louisiana Fraternal Congress. In her own words, as quoted in an April 1990 article published in The Sunday Advertiser, 'Awards are OK, but I prefer being on the street as a clown and everyone says, There's Mama T.'' 'Mama T' was a compassionate and loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to many - a true humanitarian, whose legacy of endless giving and devotions will never be forgotten by the numerous hearts and lives she's touched during her life. She is survived by seven children, Lynda Landry of Breaux Bridge, Toni Moore and husband, Mack, of Carencro, Michelle Thevenet of The Woodlands, TX, Susan Abraham and husband, Glenn, of Lafayette, Paul 'T-Paul' Thevenet, Jr. and wife, Sandra, of Breaux Bridge, Theresa 'Tisa' Menard and husband, William, of Lafayette, and Andr Thevenet and wife, Angela, of Westlake; 13 grandchildren, Tarah Raxsdale and husband, Victor, Melissa Landry, Shea Moore, Ryan Abraham, Ashley A. Johnston and husband, Michael, Katie Abraham, Adam Thevenet and fiance, Genevieve Patout, Mitchell Thevenet, Jason Menard and wife, Alicia, Michael Menard, Daniel Menard, Jacques Thevenet, and Addie Thevenet; two great grandchildren, Ashtyn and Maddie Raxsdale; two brothers, Ronald J. and Walter A. Thibodeaux, both of St. Martinville; and her two adopted sons, Fr. Oliver Obele and Fr. John Nwagbaraocha. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 60 years, Leo Paul Thevenet, Sr.; her parents, Walter Joseph and Zulmae Peltier Thibodeaux; four sisters, Jeanette Thibodeaux, Lillian T. Druilhet, Sadie T. Duplantis, and Helen T. Hebert; and three brothers, Russell, Chickley, and Roland J. Thibodeaux. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday and continue on Monday at 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. A Rosary will be recited by Deacon Marcel 'Butch' Hebert at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Pallbearers will be Melissa Landry, Shea Moore, Jason Menard, Jacques Thevenet, Mitchell Thevenet, and Ryan Abraham. Honorary pallbearers will be Tarah Raxsdale, Ashley A. Johnston, Katie Abraham, Addie Thevenet, Adam Thevenet, Michael Menard, and Daniel Menard. The family wishes to extend their sincerest thanks and appreciation to Drs. Juan Zeik, Ziad Ashkar, and Edwin Day, her nurse for the past 7 /12; years, Ginette Pommier, and the 5th floor staff of Lafayette General, for their constant care and compassion given to Mama T - you will all forever be in our thoughts and prayers. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Miles Perret Center, 2130 Kaliste Saloom Rd., Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 70508; Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 70503, or to St. Bernard Catholic School, Guardian Angel Fund, 251 E. Bridge St., Breaux Bridge, LA 70517. Pellerin Funeral Homeof Breaux Bridge is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com