William Duplechain

Port Barre– A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Bill “Coach Dup” Duplechain on Saturday, March 18, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Port Barre. Fr. Clint Trahan will celebrate the mass. Rite of Committal will follow in the church cemetery.

Bill, age 75, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Bill served his country proudly in the United States Army. He was a dedicated member of the Knights of Columbus and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Bill was an educator and coach from 1971 to 1984 at Delcambre High School. He returned home to Port Barre High School where he continued to coach and teach for 33 years. He retired as an administrator in 2017 and was inducted into the LHSAA Hall of Fame in April of 2022. He loved spending time with his family and attending all sporting events with his children and grandchildren. His passions included reading, serving at mass, and traveling. Bill will be greatly missed by his family, friends and all who knew and loved him.

Bill is survived by his wife of 54 years, Verna Regina Reed Duplechain; son, Brad Martin Duplechain of New Orleans; daughters, Sherri André Duplechain Polaniecki (Andrew) and Mary Helen Duplechain Fontenot (Charlie); grandchildren, Gabriel Joseph, David Basil, Leo Anselm, Agnes Hope and Matthew James Polaniecki of South Bend, Indiana, Leah Mable, William Jason and Cara Simone Fontenot of Port Barre; a very special family favorite, Jolie Rosemary Bourque; brother, Robert Lewis Duplechain (Vickie) of Port Barre; sister, Myra Claire Duplechain of Port Barre; brother-in-law, Webster Lynn Reed (Ruth) of Krotz Springs; sister-in-law, Sandra Kay Reed of Stephenville, TX;  and 11 nieces and nephews.

Bill is preceded in death by his son, Jason Bryant Duplechain; parents, George Duplechain, Jr. and Helen Duplechain; brother-in-law, Cherry Martin Reed; nephews, Webster Lynn Reed, Jr. and SSG Jonathan Ray Reed.

Visitation will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. in the Sibille Funeral Home of Port Barre. The rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Brad Martin Duplechain, Charles Anthony Fontenot, William Jason Fontenot, Gabriel Joseph Polaniecki, Webster Lynn Reed and Robert Lewis Duplechain.

Words of Comfort for the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Port Barre.