John Bienvenu

St. Martinville - Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church in St. Martinville, for John Bartholomew Bienvenu, 62, who passed away on Friday, November 30, 2012, at Iberia Medical Center. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm on Tuesday and continue at 9:00 am until 10:30 am on Wednesday. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm on Tuesday. Rev. Mark Derise, pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, will officiate at the funeral service. Readers for the service will be Sidney 'Jay' Bienvenu and Maggi Bienvenu. Serving as gift bearers will be Justin Callais, Rachel Callais and Christopher Callais. Music will be provided by Pat Melancon and Raymond Hebert. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville. Mr. Bienvenu was an alumni of UL-Lafayette having received the following certifications, BA in Psychology in 1971, MA in Psychology in 1975, Education Specialist in 1987 and is certified in Special Education and Adult Education. His career in education spans over 36 years. He taught Adult Education in St. Martin Parish and worked as a school psychologist. He was a member of the UL Lafayette Testing Team, Lafayette Parish School System Special Education testing team and Lafayette Parish School System Parent Child Center. He was a member of the Lafayette Art Association (President), Lafayette Watercolor Guild (Secretary), of numerous art associations including Iberia Parish Art Association and Southern Gardenia. He also belonged to The Extra Mile (Past President and Board of Directors), St. Martin Parish Public Library (Past President and Board of Directors), Louisiana Watercolor Society, Louisiana Association of School Psychologists, Louisiana Retired Teachers Association, and Lafayette Retired Teachers Association. He also taught art classes for UL Lafayette Continuing Education. Mr. Bienvenu was highly honored for his work receiving prizes and recognition from Lafayette Watercolor Guild Juried Exhibitions, Lafayette Art Association Juried competitions, One-Man shows at several private galleries. His designs were selected for the annual UL Lafayette Christmas cards. He attended numerous art related workshops and was the designated Media Representative for International Creole Franco Conference (Nova Scotia, Canada) host 2013 conference. He is survived by his son, Sidney "Jay" Bienvenu of Lafayette, daughters, Maggi Bienvenu of Winter Garden, FL, and Beth (Jude) Chiasson of Lafayette, brother, Judge C. Thomas (Roberta) Bienvenu Jr. of St. Martinville, sister, Gloria Bienvenu Callais of Golden Meadow, grandchildren, Ricky Bienvenu, Veronica Bienvenu and Austen Chiasson. He is preceded in death by his father, Charles Thomas Bienvenu Sr., mother, Isaure Margaret Blanchard Bienvenu, brother-in-law, Harold Callais, nephews, Peter and Paul Callais. Pallbearers will be Jay Bienvenu, C. Michael Callais, Corey Callais, Bennett T. Bienvenu, Albert 'Bert' Bienvenu and Charles T. Bienvenu, III. Honorary pallbearers will be Jude Chiasson, Adley J. Douet and Steven P. Durand. In lieu of flowers, family request that doantions be made to Lafayette Art Association, March of Dimes, Myesthenia Gravis Foundation of America or to the charity of your choice. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville 112 New Market St., St. Martinville, Louisiana 70582, is in charge of arrangements . To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com