Leo Paul Thevenet, Sr.

Breaux Bridge - Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., on Monday, April 5, 2010, at Pellerin Funeral Home Chapel in Breaux Bridge, for Leo Paul Thevenet, Sr., 79, who passed away on Friday, April 2, 2010 at his residence. Entombment will follow at St. Bernard Mausoleum No. 1 in Breaux Bridge. Fr. Oliver Obele will officiate at the funeral Mass. Scriptures will be read by Tarah Raxsdale and Shea Moore. Giftbearers will be Melissa Landry, Ashley Abraham, Katie Abraham, and Addie Thevenet. June Boutte will sing Amazing Grace. Paul, also better known to his friends as Polo and his grandchildren as Paups, was a veteran having honorably served his country in the United States Army. He retired with South Central Bell on May 31, 1985 after 32 years of service. In his spare time he enjoyed gardening - sharing many of his vegetables with his family and friends, as well as the ;neighborhood. Paul was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing in and around the Atchafalaya Basin, and was a long-time member of the Attakapas Hunting Club. He was recognized by the Attakapas Hunting Club as Mr. Attakapas, in gratitude for the time and effort he so generously gave to the hunting club. Paul enjoyed cooking for his family and friends and was known by many to have made of The Best Fish Courtbouillion around. Paul was a former Breaux Bridge City Councilman, a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America, and a lifetime member of the Louisiana State Firemans Association. He had previously served the local youth of Breaux Bridge as a Scout Master with the Boy Scouts of America. Many throughout the community of Breaux Bridge associated Mr. Paul with the Breaux Bridge Volunteer Fire Department, since that is where he dedicated all of his available time, no matter what day or time, he was there. Paul joined the fire department in 1944 at the young age of 14, selflessly giving of himself to protecting those in the Breaux Bridge and the St. Martin Parish Fire District for the next 46 years - usually being the first to arrive at the firehouse and among the last to leave. Paul held numerous positions in the department during that time, lastly serving as the Assistant Fire Chief until his retirement as an active firefighter in 1990, then assuming the position of a Senior Consultant with the department. In 2002, Paul purchased Fire Truck Unit No. 109 for the fire department to express his gratitude to them. Even after his retirement Paul still attended drills every other Thursday and assisted in the departments Annual Fund Raising Drive and Barbecue, for many years to follow. A devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather, Paul loved spending time with his family and friends. He will be sadly missed by those who had the honor and privilege of knowing and loving him. Survivors include his loving wife of 60 years, Eve Lenore Mama-T Thevenet, of Breaux Bridge; two sons, Leo Paul T-Paul Thevenet, Jr. and his wife, Sandra, of Breaux Bridge, and Andre Thevenet and his wife, Angela, of Westlake; five daughters, Lynda Landry, of Breaux Bridge, Toni Moore and her husband, Mac, of Carencro, Michelle Thevenet of The Woodlands, TX, Susan Abraham and her husband, Glenn, and Theresa Tisa Menard and her husband, William, all of Lafayette; 13 grandchildren, Tarah Raxsdale, Melissa Landry, Shea Moore, Ryan Abraham, Ashley Abraham, Katie Abraham, Adam Thevenet, Mitchell Thevenet, Jason Menard, Michael Menard, Daniel Menard, Jacques Thevenet, and Addie Thevenet; and two great grandchildren, Ashtyn Raxsdale and Maddie Raxsdale. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Heloise Toups Thevenet; and his twin brother, James Pat Thevenet. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home ;beginning at ;7 a.m. and continue until 1:45 p.m. on Monday. A rosary will be recited at 11:30 a.m. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Ryan Abraham, Adam Thevenet, Mitchell Thevenet, Jason Menard, Michael Menard, Daniel Menard, and Jacques Thevenet. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Breaux Bridge Volunteer Fire Company. ; Memorial donations may be made to the Miles Perret Center, 2130 Kaliste Saloom Rd., Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 70508, or to Hospice of Acadiana 2600 Johnston St., Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 70503. Pellerin Funeral Home of Breaux Bridge is in charge of arrangements.