Thomas B. Harper

New Iberia A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM on Tuesday, December 27, 2016, at St. Marcellus Catholic Church in Rynella for Thomas B. Harper, 80, who passed away on Tuesday, December 20, 2016, in New Iberia. A gathering of family and friends will be Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM on Monday, with Recitation of the Rosary at 7:00PM, led by the Mens Singing Rosary Group. Visitation will continue on Tuesday from 9:00 AM until 12:15 PM. Deacon Theo Landry will be the Officiant. Scripture will be read by Shannen Harper and Emily Harper. Entombment will follow in St. Marcellus Cemetery, with Military Honors by the Iberia Honor Guard, and members of VFW Post 1982. A native of Library, PA, and a resident of New Iberia, Thomas B. Harper was born on March 12, 1936 to the late Frank P. and Rebecca Hammond Harper. He proudly served our country for 29 years in the U.S. Air Force and Navy, and retired from the Louisiana National Guard in Jeanerette. He was a member of VFW Post 1982 in New Iberia. Mr. Harper loved spending time with his beautiful wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was a huge Pittsburg Steelers fan, and he loved music, dancing, football, and singing. Thomas is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Mary Abshire Harper; son, Brian Harper and wife Shannen of Carencro; two daughters, Vickie Harper Rivet and husband Phil, and Angela Harper Guilbeau and husband Charles, all of New Iberia; nine grandchildren, Tyler Harper, Emily Harper, Alex Harper, Cody Fuselier, Hailey Harper, Cadin Guilbeau, Megan Marks, Hanns Rivet, and Heidi Rivet; and three great-grandchildren, Dawson and Cruz Champagne, and Colton Derouen. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Dwayne Harper; a grandson, Payten Guilbeau; and three brothers, John Harper, Frank Harper Jr., and Robert Harper. Pallbearers will be Brian Harper, Tyler Harper, Cody Fuselier, Jacob Champagne, Dustin Derouen, Phil Rivet, and Charles Guilbeau. Honorary pallbearer is Cadin Guilbeau. The family would like to extend sincere appreciation to Acadian Hospice, Dr. Hankenhof, and Lisa Comeaux Arnold for excellent care. Pellerin Funeral Home of New Iberia, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.