Lloyd Sr. Berard

Funeral services will be conducted for Lloyd J. Berard, Sr., 90, at 2:00 PM on Sunday, May 4, 2008, at Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Coteau Holmes, LA. Entombment will follow in Saint Elizabeth's Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held from 10:00 AM until 10 PM on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008, with a rosary at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Visitation will continue from 7 AM until the time of service on Sunday, May 4, 2008. A native and resident of Coteau Holmes, Lloyd died at his residence at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2008 after a lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Clelie "Mary" Broussard Berard; his children, Michael Berard and wife Shirley of Youngsville, Mary "Anne" Breaux and husband Russell of Bayou L'Ourse, Regina Douet and husband Lee of Dallas, TX, Renee Bulliard of Myrtle Beach, SC, Lloyd Berard, Jr. of Coteau Holmes and companion, Patsy Angelle, Mark Berard and wife, Claudette of Loreauville, Stanley Berard and wife Brooke Harlowe of Lock Haven, PA, and Amy Gaudet and husband, Chad of Loreauville, 14 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren, and a brother, Stanley Berard of Luling, LA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Zachary and Regina Dugas Berard; his sisters, Eunice Groh, Martha Berard, and Thelma Fournet; his brothers, Vindex and Zachary "Tye" Berard; and a son, Peter Berard. Pallbearers will be Michael, Lloyd Jr., Mark, and Stanley Berard, Chad Gaudet, John Douet, Yohannes Berard, and Joshua Breaux. Honorary pallbearers will be Russell Breaux, Lee Douet, Rusty Breaux, Russell Latiolais and Rob Hollerbach. In his 90-plus years, "Mr. Lloyd" lived life to the fullest. As a young man, he worked on the Panama Canal. Although not drafted due to asthma, he volunteered for the Army and helped prepare the English Channel for the D-Day Invasion, later surviving being run over by a German half-track in France during World War II. Mr. Berard was awarded a Bronze Service Star for his services during the European African Middle Eastern Campaign. He was featured in To Honor Our Veterans, an oral history of World War II Veterans from the Bayou Country, written by Jason P. Theriot. He used the GI Bill to learn the air conditioning trade, building a successful repair business which he used to clothe and feed his 9 children. He also was a founding member of Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Church. Upon retirement, he stayed busy crawfishing, growing vegetables in his garden, and dancing at Mulatte's and Pancho Villa. His favorite supper was "23 pretzels and a couple of beers." His favorite pastimes included dancing, reading, playing guitar, telling jokes, growing his garden, and boiling crawfish. He was known to always have a smile on his face and a sparkle in his eyes. Lloyd was a selfless husband and father who also served others as a cashier for the Saint Martin Parish Food Stamp Program, a member of the Selective Service System, a director for the Teche Electric Cooperative in Jeanerette, and an active member of the Saint Martinville chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), the American Legion, the Disabled Veterans of America, and the Coteau Holmes Volunteer Fire Department. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Elizabeth's Catholic Church in Coteau Holmes, LA. Pellerin Funeral Homes of Saint Martinville is in charge of the arrangements.