Joseph Homer Legrand

Breaux Bridge - Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, June 12 , 2009, at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge, for Joseph Homer Legrand, 84, who passed away on Tuesday, June 9, 2009 at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette. Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery No. 2 in Breaux Bridge. Father Allen Breaux will officiate at the funeral Mass. Scriptures will be read by Brandy Bacala and Desire Bacala. Gift Bearers will be John Guidry and Stephen Bacala. Homer, as he was known to family and friends, served our country proudly and honorably during World War II, stationed in the Philippines as a naval flight mechanic for B-24 "The Liberator" bombers. He became a certified tong mechanic and after a few years working in industry in Baton Rouge, finished a lengthy career in the oil field industry in Lafayette working for Lamb Industries, Weatherford-Lamb, Rebel Rentals, and Tong Rentals. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the American Legion, Breaux Bridge posts, as well as a parishioner of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge. On May 3, 2008, he was honored for his military service as a participant in the Louisiana HonorAir flight to Washington, D.C., accompanied by his son-in-law, John Guidry. He was a devoted husband to his wife, Savannah, for almost 58 years, a wonderful father to his two daughters, and a proud PaPop to his seven grandchildren. He enjoyed volunteering weekly at the Lafayette Visitor's Center, greeting and helping people in both English and French. He also enjoyed camping with family, tomato gardening, country music, and Saints football. He was a great joke teller, and loved sharing his stories with his grandchildren. He was a resident of Breaux Bridge, and most recently of Garden View Assisted Living in Lafayette. Survivors include his loving wife, Savannah Mae Benoit Legrand, of Breaux Bridge; two daughters, Elizabeth Legrand Guidry, and her husband, John, of Lafayette, and Wanda Legrand Bacala and her husband, Stephen, of Baton Rouge; seven grandchildren, Tiffiny Guidry, David Joseph Guidry, Desire Bacala, Stevie Bacala, Brandy Bacala, Michael Guidry and Joseph Bacala; three nephews, Ronald Legrand of Baton Rouge, C.J. Legrand of Parks, and Gerald Huval of Lafayette; and several great-nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert "Bob" and Silvie Mason Legrand; a brother, Chervit Joseph Legrand; and a sister, Ophelia "Sis" Legrand Huval. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday and continue at 9 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. on Friday. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. on Thursday. Pallbearers will be David Guidry, Stevie Bacala, Michael Guidry, Joseph Bacala, Ronald Legrand, and C. J. Legrand. Honorary pallbearers will be Javis Roberts, Jerry Guidry, Ian McClelland, Lloyd Bienvenue and Hector Robles, M.D. The family would like to extend special thanks to the following for their compassion, comfort, and care of both Homer and his family during his illness: Dr. Hector Robles and Nurse Mary, Dr. Ashkar Gupta, Dr. Jody Rosson, Dr. William Guillory, Dr. Juan Paredes, the staff at FMC West Dialysis Clinic, the ER and MICU staffs at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Becky Benoit, RN, Comfort Care, and Sister Eileen of Our Lady of Lourdes, the staff and residents of Garden View Assisted Living Facility, STAT Home Health Services, and special family friends, Doris Bacala and Aline Hesterly. Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge is in charge of arrangements.