Bella Joyce Hernandez

Funeral Services will be held at a 10:00 am Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Bella Joyce Hernandez, 70, who passed away on August 21, 2011 at 10:03 am at Lafayette General Medical Center. Very Rev. W. Curtis Mallet, Pastor of St. Genevieve Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Con-celebrant will be Reverend Thomas Voorhies of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Honorary Con-celebrant will be Reverend Joseph Brennan. Burial will take place in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery. Mrs. Hernandez, a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana was the daughter of the late Agnes Domingue Duplechin and Clifton 'Blue' Cormier. She was born on September 14, 1940 in Lafayette, Louisiana. She graduated from Lafayette High School in 1958. In 1961, she graduated from Our Lady of the Lakes Nursing School and worked as an RN at Lafayette Sanatorium and later at Lafayette General Medical Center. She left nursing to raise a family. As a young wife and mother, she became an active member of Les Petites Femme Home Demonstration Club holding several officer positions and was voted outstanding member for two years. In 1976, she worked along with her husband in his new State Farm Agency as secretary for three years. For the last thirty years she did volunteer work in several nursing homes in Lafayette styling hair, manicures and distributing Holy Communion. She served in St. Genevieve Church Parish as Eucharistic Minister, Pro-Life Coordinator, and was a member of the Catholic Daughters' Auxiliary and Ladies Altar Society. She loved traveling with Don and all their State Farm friends on company trips. For enjoyment she loved playing Pokeno and Bunco with family and friends. She also enjoyed line dancing and cruising along with her husband in their antique car club activities. She especially looked forward to and enjoyed her grandchildren, never missing any special events. One of her very special gifts was her ability to gather family for meals and holidays, which always resulted in lots of food, fun and laughter. Bella was a woman of strong faith, which showed up in the manner that she lived her life. She was very giving, had a generous spirit, a wonderful sense of humor, and always maintained a positive outlook. She will be truly missed and loved by all who knew her and will certainly never be forgotten. Bella was an especially devoted wife to Don for 48 years, mother to Pam and Kathy, proud grandmother, loving daughter, sister, aunt and dear friend to all who knew her well. She is survived by husband Don of Lafayette, LA; two daughters, Pam Hernandez Rigsby and husband John Wesley of Carencro, LA and Kathy Hernandez and partner Katherine Keigley of Lafayette, LA; three grandchildren, Jordan, Shawn and Lindsey Kelly; five step-grandchildren, Kourtney Waguespack, Kole Kelly, Kamron Kelly, Wesley Rigsby and J.T. Rigsby; three brothers, James Cormier and wife Kathie of Lafayette, LA, Gerald Cormier and wife Rita of Lafayette, LA and Darrell Cormier and wife Deborah of Rayne, LA. She was preceded in death by her parents; stepfather, Thomas Duplechin and two uncles, J.Y. Domingue and Russell Domingue. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Tuesday from 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM. Rosaries will be recited at 4:00 PM by the Catholic Daughters and The Ladies Altar Society and again at 7:00 PM with Fr. Anderson de Souza. Visitation will continue on Wednesday at 8:00 AM until the time of service. Pallbearers will be Jordan Kelly, Shawn Kelly, Steven Cormier, Carey Cormier, Cory Cormier and Toby Cormier. The family would like to extend a special thanks to family and friends who prayed the rosary for her during her illness, also to Dr. Michael Cain, his staff and the nursing staff at Lafayette General Medical Center. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 1250 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501, the Missionaries of Charity, 904 Jack Street, Lafayette, LA 70501 or to Louisiana Right to Life, P.O. Box 7962, Metairie, LA 70010. Personal condolences may be sent to the Hernandez family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Bella Joyce Hernandez

September 14, 1940 - August 21, 2011