Verna Henry

New Iberia - A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 pm on Monday, October 30, 2017, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in New Iberia for Verna Lee Hebert Henry, 86, who passed away peacefully at her New Iberia home with her caring family by her side on Friday, October 27, 2017. Entombment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery & Mausoleums in New Iberia. Rev. Francois Sainte-Marie will be the Celebrant. Readers will be Mrs. Henrys great granddaughters Kaylie Smith Omlor and Brianne Derouen. Gift bearers include granddaughters Pepper Smith Brasseaux, Alyssa Delaune and great granddaughter Alexis Norman. Musical selections will be Amazing Grace, In the Garden, The Old Rugged Cross, and Hallelujah, and will be sung by Donna Hayes and accompanied by organist Janet Sinitiere. Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia will host a gathering of family and friends on Sunday from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm. A rosary, led by the Men's Rosary Group, will be prayed at 7:00 pm Sunday, followed by the eulogy, courtesy of Dianna Delcambre. Visitation will continue on Monday from 8:00 am until 1:30 pm. Mrs. Henry was born on August 21, 1931 in New Iberia. On March 25, 1950, she was united in Holy Matrimony to Percy J. Henry, and they were blessed with five children. In 1959, Percy purchased an existing convenience store (Wag-A-Bag) for her birthday. Verna operated the store in the daytime for the first few months of operation while Percy was still a salesman on the road. It became the first local convenience store to begin operating from 7 to 11. In 1963, they went on to build the first strip mall in New Iberia and relocated Wag-A-Bag to 1424 Center Street. After raising her five children, her love to care for children continued at Muppets and Friends Nursery, where she served as a grandmother to hundreds of children for over 20 years. She was blessed with many long lasting friendships as a patron at Pat Walkers Figure Salon, then as an employee. She had a passion for flower gardening, dancing, reading and cooking for her family. Even though she did not eat seafood, to the delight of her family, she mastered many seafood dishes. She had an award winning jambalaya that; unfortunately, her children have yet to perfect. She loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, visiting family and friends at House of Cache, and her weekly visits to the hair salon. She and Percy always had an open door policy for family and friends and often offered a safe and loving place for many to stay. Mrs. Henry was a member of New Hope Rebekah Lodge No. 70 for over 60 years and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 66 (I.O.O.F), a fraternal organization derived from 17th century England and founded on the North American Continent in 1819 for the purpose of giving aid to those in need and of pursuing projects for the benefit of all mankind. She was also a faithful longtime member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. Affectionately known as Maw to many, Mrs. Henry was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Survivors include her sons, Keith Henry and fianc Luly of New Iberia, Bryan Henry of New Iberia; daughters, Tina Suhr of New Iberia, Tessie Delaune and husband Kirk of Cypress, Texas, Jennifer Smith and husband Paul Tom Smith of New Iberia; Nine grandchildren, Steven Henry and spouse Brandi of Cypress, Texas, Pepper Brasseaux and spouse Eric, Joshua Norman, Heather Derouen, Brent Henry, Keira Henry, Tiffany Henry and spouse Joel, all of New Iberia, Allie Delaune, and Justin Delaune of Cypress, Texas; Eighteen great grandchildren, Kaylie Omlor and spouse Isaac, Alexis Norman, Brianne Derouen, Tristin Derouen, Bryce Segura and spouse Emily, Mercedes Medina, Daymion Henry, Brent Kyle Henry, Jr., Jonah Ray Derouen, Olivia Henry, Lexiana Garduno, Avery Brasseaux, Alyssa Brasseaux, Sage Brasseaux, Hunter Taylor, Jayden Bellard, Mason Henry, Elyssa Henry; sister-in-law Pat Hebert Fryer and spouse Charles; God daughter Tammy Hebert Broussard; numerous nieces and nephews and her beloved dog, Prince Albert Henry. She was preceded in death by her husband, Percy Joseph Henry, mother, Elinda Badeaux Hebert, father, Clomare Hebert, sister, Leatrice LeBlanc, brother, Verland Hebert and daughter-in-law Cyrillia Ann Sinitiere Henry. Upholding the honor of pallbearers will be Steven Henry, Keith Henry, Joshua Norman, Isaac Omlor, Eric Brasseaux, and Kirk Delaune. Honorary pallbearers include Bryan Henry and Tom Smith. The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Carl Ditch, Dr. Moses Kitakule, Carmichaels Medical, Skip and Stephanie Leleux for their weekly devotional visits, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Rev. Bill Melancon, and Rev. Francois Sainte-Marie. The family also thanks her dear friends Sylvia Thornhill, Kathy Meadows, Miranda Romero, Connie Romero and Leilani Touchet for their care and compassion to Verna. Special thanks and appreciation is extended to the staff at Iberia Medical Center, Acadian Home Care, Home Instead Senior Care, and Bridgeway Healthcare and Hospice, for their dedication and compassionate care given to her in her final days. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, 337.365.3331 is in charge of arrangements.