Parks - A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, June 20, 2019, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Parks, LA for Irene Anne Melancon, 96, who passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2019.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at St. Joseph Catholic Church from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm on Thursday.
A rosary will be prayed at 12:00 pm on Thursday.
Rev. Nicholas DuPre' will officiate at the Memorial Service.
Irene, affectionately known as "Nanny" throughout her life by her many nieces, nephews and family, was devoted to her immediate family and to all her extended families. She retired as an administrative assistant in 1988 after 37 years with a contracting company in St. Martinville where she also held the positions of accountant and office manager. She was previously employed for 8 years as an accountant with a wholesale company in Texas. She was known for her honesty and integrity, not only in the business world but also in her personal life.
Irene resided in the original family homestead in Parks most of her life until the time of her passing. Family members knew they were always welcome to visit and those who had moved away considered it a "vacation paradise" to spend time with her in Parks. She highly valued education and was especially interested in her nieces and nephews who were seeking further education and in hearing of their future careers and plans. She had a special way with the little ones who were automatically drawn to her. She always found the right thing to do to hold their interest and keep them occupied. Irene had a way of making them all feel special, young and old.
Her faith was very important to her and after retiring, many days she could be found spending time in the St. Theobald Adoration Chapel in Parks where she prayed not only for family, but for the needs of others and the community. She loved flowers and it gave her great joy to make flower arrangements for the chapel on special occasions.
Irene attended Parks Elementary School, the Convent of Mercy High School in St. Martinville, Southwestern College in Lafayette (now ULL), and Port Arthur Texas Business College. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Catholic Daughters, was on the Council of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Parks and was a Eucharistic Minister. Irene will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her sister, Mabel Kernan and husband Kurn of Scottsdale, AZ; brothers, Paul Melancon of New Iberia, LA, Carroll Melancon and wife Rachel of Lake Charles, LA, and Harold P. Melancon and wife Gerri of Sun City, AZ; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Theobald Benoit Melancon, Sr. and Ida Marie Thibodeaux Melancon; sisters, Mary Darnell and Rose Mary Abshire; brother, T.B. Melancon; brothers-in-law, James Darnell and Donald Abshire; and sister-in-law, Mable Melancon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Irene’s name to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 1034 Bridge St., Parks, LA 70582 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
Pellerin Funeral Home (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements.
