Irene Bernard Gary

St. Martinville - A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 16, 2005, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville for Irene Bernard Gary, 89, who died on Friday, May 13, at Lafayette General Hospital, in Lafayette, Louisiana. Special music for the service will be pre-recorded and performed by daughter, Yvonne Gary, who will sing, "Amazing Grace," and granddaughter, Michelle Suzanne Brians, violinist, who will play, "Ave Maria." Organist, Pat Melancon, accompanied by the St. Martin de Tours Choir, will play "Panis Angelicus" and "On Eagle's Wings"; he will also provide the accompaniment for Michelle to perform "Meditation from Thais" by Massanet on her violin. Interment will be in St. Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville immediately following the funeral mass on Monday. A native and resident of St. Martinville, Irene Suzanne Bernard Gary was born on February 15, 1916. The daughter of Wade and Luvinia Bernard, Gary graduated from St. Martinville High School and later earned a nursing diploma from Touro Infirmary in 1943. After working as a registered nurse in New Orleans at Touro Hospital for several years, Gary worked at Dauterive Hospital in New Iberia and later, St. Martinville Infirmary until her retirement. She was a parishioner of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church and a member of the St. Martin de Tours Church Choir for many years. Survivors include: son, Louis Gary, and daughter-in-law, Sally Gary, of Lafayette; daughters, Yvonne Gary, of Lafayette; Louise Gary Ranson, and son-in-law, Dave Ranson, of Lafayette; and Suzanne Gary Brians and son-in-law, Robin of Tyler, Texas; her brother, Raymond Larry Bernard of Medford, Oregon; and her six grandchildren, Phillip Gary, Ashley Gary, Cain Conrad, and Rene Paul Cross of Lafayette; and Chris and Michelle Brians of Denton, Texas. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Louis "Tib" Gary; her parents, Wade and Luvinia Bernard, and three brothers, Wade, Nolan, and Allen Bernard. The family of Irene Gary extends its appreciation and thanks to Drs. Robert Carroll, Jaime Cordova, Wayne Lindemann, Joseph Kowalski, Keith Colomb, and Vernon Valentino; Lafayette General nurses on LTAC, Rehab, and the staff of the 6th and 7th floors; primary sitters, Martha Venable and Betty Roberts; Father Boyer; as well as relatives and friends who provided her with exemplary medical, spiritual, and family support and ancillary care. A special thanks to her four children, Yvonne, Louis, Louise, and Suzanne, for helping to insure and maintain her independence and quality of life in her family home in St. Martinville, until her demise. Irene was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who doted on her family. She will be remembered for her nurturing and care-giving spirit, boundless energy, musical appreciation, culinary expertise, sacrificial nature, and strong Christian faith. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 15; a rosary will be recited at 3:00. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements.