Lena Abshire Thomas

New Iberia - A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia for Lena Abshire Thomas, 85, who passed away on Sunday, March 27, 2022, at .

Entombment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery in New Iberia.

Deacon Durk Viator will officiate.

A gathering of family and friends will be Monday, March 28 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Pellerin Funeral Home, and will continue on Tuesday from 8:00 am until 10:00 am.

A rosary, led by the Men's Rosary Group will be prayed at 6:30 pm Monday.

A Native of Vermillion Parish born on May 3, 1936, to Evans, and Nervy Duhon Abshire. Lena was raised in New Iberia, and brought up in the grocery business with her parents. (Evans Grocery) where she helped in the store as a young child, even if it ment making grocery deliveries by bicycle. Lena's love of dancing led her to become a dance instructor for Arthur Murray Dance Studios, where she met the love of her life, and her forever dance partner Bill J. Thomas. They traveled to Puerto Rico to teach dancing where they had two of their three children. They retired to Mississippi where they had their third child. They then returned to New Iberia to become part owners of Evans Poultry, her parents business. They opened Sea Chef, a seafood business. They also built a Horse business, then a Craft business "Hand Crafted Magic".

Lena loved spending time with her family, and friends. She loved reading, watching her cooking shows and, the birds in her backyard.

Survivors include her children, Michael Thomas (Gaywynn) of New Iberia, Barron Thomas (Brenda) of New Iberia, Myra Thomas LeBlanc (Terry) of New Iberia; nine grandchildren, Shawn Thomas Jefferson (Sean), Lana Thomas Bodin (Andre), Shannon LeBlanc (Elgie), Tera LeBlanc Madere (Matthew), Scott Thomas (Veronica), Raven Martin Judice, Cody Thomas (Christina), Nikolos LeBlanc (Kami), Amber Martin; twelve great grandchildren, Taylor Thomas, Bralynn Judice, Jackson LeBlanc, Kamryn Jefferson, Ellie LeBlanc, Tayden LeBlanc, Benjamin Madere, Axel Jefferson, Ella Claire Madere, Brylan Judice, Noah Wyatt Thomas, Trenton Hebert; .

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Bill J. Thomas; and her parents, Evans and Nervy Duhon Abshire.

Pallbearers include Michael Thomas, Barron Thomas, Shannon LeBlanc, Nikolos LeBlanc, Cody Thomas, Scott Thomas.

Honorary pallbearers will be Terry LeBlanc.

The family would like to thank Hospice of Acadiana for their kind and gentle care of their mother.

Pellerin Funeral Home of New Iberia, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.