Bennett Joachim Voorhies

Funeral arrangements include a Funeral Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, his sons, Rev. Bennett Joachim Voorhies and Rev. Thomas Parkerson Voorhies main celebrants along with Rev. Harold Trahan and priests of the Diocese of Lafayette and elsewhere on Thursday at 1:00 pm. Bennett Joachim Voorhies, Jr. died in the City and Parish of Lafayette, LA on the 21st day of March, 2011. He was born to Bennett Joachim Voorhies, Sr. and Louise Pelletier Voorhies on August 30, 1925 (actually August 24, but he considered his baptismal date as his birthday). They predeceased him to the grave by many years. His survivors include: Lenore Parkerson Voorhies, his loving wife of almost 60 years (since Sept. 1, 1951). Four Children, one son-in-law, and five grandchildren also survive him. Jan Lenore Voorhies Spizale and husband David Joseph Spizale of Lafayette, LA, and Grandchildren Matthew Voorhies Spizale and Lauren Claire Spizale. Rev. Bennett Joachim Voorhies, a Roman Catholic Priest of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe, New Mexico, now pastor of Our Lady of the Annunciation Roman Catholic Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Rev. Thomas Parkerson Voorhies, a Roman Catholic Priest of the Diocese of Lafayette, LA, now Pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church of Scott, LA. Claire Louise Voorhies Marikar of Austin, TX and Grandchildren, Hamsa Davud Marikar, Amaan Davud Marikar and Nasreen Ciel Marikar. Ben's son-in-law, Sabry Davud Marikar, also predeceased him to the grave. Yolande Voorhies Logan, a sister, the widow of Lawrence Logan of Metairie, LA, and her children, Lonnie Villere Logan of Florida, Lisanne Logan O'Neil of Metairie, LA, and Leslie Logan Bruno, of Metairie, LA. Nieces of his predeceased baby sister, Stephanie Voorhies Hall, being Eleanor Pelletier Hall Cunningham of St. Rose, LA, Catherine Delahoussaye Hall Camp of Mandeville, LA, and Meredith Lind Hall of Metairie, LA. At an early age he became an Altar Boy at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church under the direction of Msgr. A. M. Wassler. Shortly thereafter he became a member of Troop 19, Methodist Church Boy Scout Troop. He thereafter became an Eagle Scout Troop 19, under the guidance of Scout Master Lloyd Faulk in 1940. At age 16 he volunteered into the United States Navy in 1942, with the express written consent of his Mother and Father. He served in the Navy Stateside 1943 through the War and was separated from Naval Service in 1946. He attended Mt. Carmel and Cathedral Elementary Schools during his early years then graduated from Lafayette High School in 1942. After World War II he attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now UL, and Tulane University Law School, receiving his law degree from Tulane in 1950. He immediately thereafter joined the law firm of Voorhies & Labbe, the then partners, his Father Bennett Joachim Voorhies, Sr. and his God-Father, Donald Labbe in 1950. He remained a member of the law firm until 1965 when he opened a sole practitioner law office. He enjoyed the long association with Attorney Wendell J. Bares of many years. In 1951, he became a charter member of the Knights of Columbus of Our Lady of Fatima. He remained a Knight until his death. He also remained a member of the Lafayette and Louisiana Bar Associations from 1950 until his death. He was one of the founding members of the Apostolic non-profit charity, the Marian Light Brigade. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm and will continue on Thursday from 10:00 am until the time of service. A rosary will be said at the Funeral Home at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. He has required the closing of his casket. He will be cremated and the cremains will be buried with the bones of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett Joachim Voorhies, Sr., and maternal grandparents, David Pelletier and Yolande Rigues Pelletier, in the Pelletier-Voorhies tomb, St. John's Cathedral Cemetery, Lafayette, LA. As a life-long struggling Roman Catholic and struggling Christian, he has relegated his soul to the divine mercy of God the Father, his Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. In the main he wrote this obituary. Pallbearers will be David Spizale, Matthew Voorhies Spizale, Hamsa Marikar, Amaan Marikar, Wendell Bares, Glen Ashy, Mario Holloway, Aubrey Guidry of the West, Marc Maniscalco, Captain Roland Bienvenu, Elmer Davies of Tennessee, Thomas Long of Mississippi, Charles Coignard, Jules Menou Arceneaux, Linda Mitchell, Oneal Webber, Donald Reed, MD, Carroll Caillier, William Pelltier, MD, Warren Hernandez, Parker Perret, David McCormick, Dorothy Joseph, and Edna Underwood. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to "The Marian Light Brigade" which helps Sri Lankan orphans and local needy persons and encourages kidney donations which Ben did while still living, to P.O. Box 610, Scott, LA, 70583. The family would like to thank the following: Dr. Don Reed and Staff, Lafayette General Medical Center Doctors and Staff, Hospice of Acadiana, Med Source, Dorothy Joseph his caregiver and all those who showed him any kindness throughout the years. Personal condolences may be sent to the Voorhies family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Bennett Joachim Voorhies

August 24, 1925 - March 21, 2011