Stanford Smith Jr.

Stanford A. Smith, Jr.

LAFAYETTE - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, December 2, 2013 at 11:00 am in St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church for Stanford A. Smith, Jr. 71, who passed away November 28, 2013 at his residence. Father Gary Schexnayder, pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton, will officiate the mass and conduct the funeral service. Interment will follow the mass at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens.

Survivors include his wife of fifty years, Suzanne C. Smith; two daughters, Elizabeth Bergez and her husband Francois of Amiens, France, and Darlene Garon and her husband Joseph of Grammercy, La.; three sisters, Patricia Roberts of Silver Springs, Maryland, Elaine Collier and her husband Mike of Houston, and Doris Whalen and her husband Donald of Houston; five grandchildren, Lucie and Meghan Bergez, and Elyse, Christophe, and Matthieu Garon; and two sisters-in-law, Kathryn Smith of Opelousas and Rose Cole of McNeil, Ms.

He was preceded in death by parents, the former Thelma Birckel Smith and Stanford Alfred Smith, and one brother, James Smith.

Stan was native of New Orleans and resident of Lafayette for the past 34 years. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from LSU, and his Doctorate from Texas A&M. He was employed by the University of Louisiana at Lafayette for 24 years before retiring in 2003. He was a member of the Red Stick Model A Club of Baton Rouge, and the Ulster Project, which is an international peace project promoting the young leaders of Northern Ireland to learn skills in conflict resolution. He and his wife Suzanne were parishioners of St. Elizabeth Seton, and were also actively involved in Catholic Engaged Encounter for 30 years.

Pallbearers will be Christophe Garon, Matthieu Garon, Francois Bergez, Joseph Garon, Mike Collier, Donald Whalen, Don Cole and Dale Cole.

The family requests that visitation be held Sunday, December 1, 2013 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm at Walters Funeral Home, and resume Monday morning at 8:00 am until time of service. A rosary will be led by Father Jules Arceneaux Sunday evening at 6:00 pm.

The family also wishes to thank their excellent caregivers Fernando Perez Viarte, Freda Hall, Yelena Garcia and James Broussard; Concepts of Care and St. Joseph Hospice for their care during Stan's time of need.

Memorial contributions can be made in Stan's name to Parkinson's Disease Foundation at www.support.pdf.org, or St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.

Words of condolence may be expressed online at www.waltersfh.com.

Walters Funeral Home; 2424 N. University Ave., Lafayette, LA 70507; 337.706.8941 is in charge of arrangements.