Lily 'Buggie' Emmer Smith

New Iberia - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am, on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at St. Peter Catholic Church in New Iberia, for Lily "Buggie" Emmer Smith, 75, who passed away on Thursday, February 11, 2016, at her residence. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at the funeral home from 12:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Friday, and continue on Saturday at 7:00 am until 10:00 am. A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 pm on Friday. Reverend Gary Schexnayder will officiate at the Mass of Christian Burial. Readers will be Phillip Smith and Margo Cousin. Gift Bearers will be her grandchildren. Interment will follow at St. Peter Cemetery in New Iberia. Buggie as she was known to family and friends was born to Dr. Andrew and Miriam Emmer on July 30, 1940. She was the younger of two girls, her elder sister being Adrienne Duhe. She lived her entire 75 years of life in New Iberia. She attended Mt. Carmel Academy and SLI. She worked odd jobs over the years, including stints as a secretary for Perry Segura, a religion teacher at Mt. Carmel (teaching Come Lord Jesus classes), and a salesperson at Abdallas. However, the majority of her life was spent as a housewife and mother to four children and grandmother to eight grandchildren. Those that know, know that she was a mother to all she encountered. She mentored many and was always willing to pray with and for anyone in need. She handed out thousands of green scapulars, the badge of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The stories abound as to those who benefited. Her later years in life were spent caring for her husband of 50 years, as he battled cancer and passed away in 2010. She too battled cancer (lung cancer - 21 year survivor). The last few years were tough on her body as she battled many ailments and was relegated to breathing supplemental oxygen, but those ailments never took her spirit or her love of life and others away from her. At 411 and barely 105 pounds, she feared only God. She took joie de vivre to another level. As Saint Maximilian Kolbe once said, Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did. So too is it true for Buggie, you can never love her more than her children and extended children did! She is survived by her sons, Andrew George Smith, Michael Paul Smith and wife Mary Jo, and Elbridge Ruffin Smith, III and wife Shawn; daughter, Miriam Angelle Schwing and husband Pierre; grandchildren, Matthew Smith, Phillip Smith and spouse Morgan, Maggie Smith, Andrew Schwing, Lily Schwing, Hannah Smith, Payton Smith, and Emma Smith; and sister, Adrienne Duhe and husband James L. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Elbridge "Smitty" Ruffin Smith, Jr.; parents, Dr. Andrew Emmer and Miriam Derouen Emmer. Pallbearers will be Ronald Minville, Ray Escuriex, Raymond Bernard, Tommy Lord, Wiltz Toups, Henry Derise. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Angers, Bobby Bodin, Robert Downes, Pierre Schwing, Roger Sorensen. Pellerin Funeral Home of New Iberia, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.