Joseph Linton Bourda

St. Martinville - Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, December 15, 2007, at Notre Dame Catholic Church in St. Martinville, for Joseph Linton Bourda, 75, who passed away on Monday, December 10, 2007 at Dauterive Hospital in New Iberia. Interment will follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery in St. Martinville. Fr. Thomas Mullally, S.V.D., will conduct the funeral service. Mr. Bourda was a veteran of the Korean Conflict having honorably served his country in the United States Army. He was member of the Knights of Peter Claver. ?He loved watching television and spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren. ?Another favorite pastime was to take leisure rides around town. ?He was an avid reader, who displayed simplicity and quietness. ?His children described him as a ""gentle giant."" Survivors include his wife, Emily M. Bourda, of St. Martinville; four daughters, Mozella Gonsoulin, of Breaux Bridge, Jacqueline Smith and husband, Jonathan, of Pearland, TX, Linda Jo Raymond and husband, Lyndon, Sr., of St. Martinville, and Gladys Bourda, of Pearland, TX; one sister, Mary Margaret Williams, of Lake Charles; and seven grandchildren, Alicia, Destinie, Dominique, Lyndon, Jr., Emily, Jalen, and Joshua. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph H. Bourda, Sr. and Gladys Robertson Bourda; three brothers, Janice, Lloyd, and Joseph ""Bello"" Bourda; and one sister, Dr. Mazel Neveu. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on Friday and continue at 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Pallbearers will be Terrence Bourda, Louis Brown, III, Clayton Mitchell, Gregory Neveu, Sr., Melvin Neveu, Jr., and Dustin Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be Earl Dundas, Jr., Walter Gonsoulin, Jr., Jeremy Landry, George Mallery, Bernard Mitchell, Jr., Raymond Mitchell, Melvin Neveu, Sr., Lyndon Raymond, Sr., James Sam, Sr., Vincent Sam, Joseph Skipper, Jonathan Smith, and Lumas Williams. Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville is in charge of arrangements.