Louis C. Blanda Sr.

BLANDA Louis C. Blanda Sr. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2009, at a 1:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Lafayette, LA for Mr. Louis Charles Blanda, Sr., age 86, who died Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in Lafayette General Medical Center. Interment will be in St. John Cemetery. The Rev. Fr. William C. Blanda, Mr. Blanda's son and Pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville will be the Celebrant of the Funeral Mass and will conduct the services. In attendance will be the Most Rev. Michael Jarrell, Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, and the Most Rev. Glen John Provost, Bishop of the Diocese of Lake Charles. Master of Ceremonies will be the Rev. Msgr. Keith J. DeRouen, Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. Lectors will be Nick Blanda and Rami Gauthreaux. Gifts will be presented by Carl Hunter, Cleve Banquer and Farrel Hunter. The Voices of St. Mary Magdalen Choir, under the direction of Mr. Tommy Guidry and accompanied on the organ by Mr. Tom Niel, will sing for the Funeral Mass "Lacrymosa" from the Mozart Requiem, "My Shepherd Is The Lord", "Libera Me" from the Faure' Requiem, "Lux Aeterna" from the Rutter Requiem, "In Paradisum" from the Faure' Requiem and "Surely He Hath Borne Our Grief" from Handel's Messiah. Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Doris Hunter Blanda of Lafayette; his sons, Dr. Louis C. Blanda, Jr. and his wife, Charlotte of Lafayette and Rev. Fr. William C. Blanda, of Abbeville; eight grandchildren, Philip C. Blanda, Jr., Kristie Blanda, Tracy Lasseigne, Rami Gauthreaux, Nicholas Blanda, Bobbie Joe Blanda, Rebecca Blanda and Robert Blanda, Jr.; and two great grandchildren, Brooke Gauthreaux and Hubert Gauthreaux. He was preceded in death by his sons, Robert C. Blanda and Philip C. Blanda; his grandson, Joseph C. Blanda and his parents, Phillip C. Blanda and the former Josephine Chenniliaro. A native of Harvey, LA and a former resident of Rockford, Illinois and Harvey, Louisiana Mr. Blanda was a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana since 1994. He was a graduate of Marrero High School, attended Southwestern Lafayette V-12 Program USMC, attended Tulane University on an athletic scholarship for baseball and basketball where he earned a B.Ed majoring in physical education, and earned a M. Ed at Loyola University. Mr. Blanda was a World War II U. S. Marine Corps veteran serving with the First Marine Division in the South Pacific at Guam, Okinawa, and China. He helped organize and was the First Commandant of the Harvey Kelly DiGiovanni Post 9034 V.F.W. He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus-Immaculata Council #4222, the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Post 7307, Gretna American Legion Post 64. He belonged to the AARP, National Association for Retired Credit Union People, the Jefferson Parish Retired Teachers' Association, Louisiana State Teachers Association and the Salesian Cooperators. He served as a representative of the Archdiocese of New Orleans for the Archbishop's Community Appeal. Mr. Blanda also served the Jefferson Parish community as a teacher, coach, supervisor of Physical Education, Health and Safety, Athletic Director, Director of School Bus Transportation, and District I Assistant Superintendent. He also served as Boy Scouts of America Counselor in Athletics and Physical Fitness. In the early 1950's he organized the Westbank Recreation Department, which was sanctioned by the Jefferson Parish Council. He received the St. Louis Medalion for Roman Catholic Services in St. Rosalie Parish. Mr. Blanda served as President of the St. Rosalie School Board. During his tenure, St. Rosalie became a Blue Ribbon School. He served as President of the St. Rosalie Pastoral Council. He served as Youth Counselor for the St. Rosalie Parish Teens for Christ. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church Capital Campaign Fund, P. O. Box 1507, Abbeville, LA 70511 or to St. Rosalie School, 612 First Avenue, Harvey, LA 70058. A Rosary will be prayed Friday at 7:00 PM in the Martin & Castille Funeral Home of Lafayette. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 6:00 PM until 9:00 PM Friday and on Saturday from 9:00 AM until time of the services. Pallbearers will be Gilbert Boudreaux, Leroy "Trip" Trepagnier, Jules Sandras, Daniel Alario, Mark Banquer and Philip Blanda, Jr. View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille - Lafayette - 234-2311