Lawrence Usner

Funeral Services will be held at a 2:00 pm Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church for Lawrence Usner, 85, who passed away on May 22, 2010 at 7:10AM at his residence. Reverend Hampton Davis, Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and Concelebrants will be long time beloved friend, Reverend Joseph Brennan and Reverend Steve LeBlanc, Pastor of St. Pius X Catholic Church. The family's beloved pastor, Reverend Chester Arceneaux, will be out of town and will concelebrate in spirit. Entombment will take place in St. John Cemetery. Mr. Usner, a resident of Lafayette, LA, was the son of the late Jacob Mathais Usner of New Orleans, Louisiana and the former Grazellia Garcia of New Orleans, Louisiana. He was an alumni of Jesuit High School in New Orleans, volunteered in the United States Navy during WWII, and enrolled in the Navy V12 Pre-Med Program. He graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Geology & a minor in Zoology. Mr. Usner worked for Amerada Petroleum Co., Warren Petroleum Corp., Gulf Oil Corp and Republic Natural Gas Corp., as a geologist. He began woking for himself as a consulting geologist in 1960 and continued in that capacity for the remainder of of his professional years. Mr. Usner, a devout and loving husband and father, was a member of Our Lady of Wisdom Church and served there on the Parish Council and as a Eucharistic Minister for many years. He enjoyed volunteering for VITA teaching adults to read, for several years. He loved spending time in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, his childhood summer home, sailing Biloxi Bay on his sailboat, "Endorphin" with his beloved wife as First Mate. He spent a few years as Director of Lafayette Natural History Museum and Planetarium, enjoyed hobbies of astronomy, lapidary arts, and the recreational collecting of rocks and mineral specimens from the natural environment. After retiring from Geology, he worked with his wife, Mary, in their business in Lafayette, Miss Mary's Pralines and Things. The family would like to express their deep and heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Margaret Rucks and the volunteers of Hospice of Acadiana, nurse Jolane Doucet, caregiver Rose Lilly, and all others for the loving care they provided during his illness. The family would also like to express their sincere appreciation to Dr. Luiz Meza, Natalie, Billie, and all the staff for the more than 20 years of exceptional care, allowing for the additional years the family was able to enjoy with their husband/father/grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mary Mendenhal Albaugh Usner; four daughters, Roxana Marie Usner of Pacifica, CA, Beverley Ann LeBlanc of Lafayette, Mary Elizabeth (Libby) Fenstermaker of Lafayette and Laura Patricia Miller and husband Todd of Lafayette; two sons Larry Ellis Usner and wife Karen of Lafayette and Stephen Kearny Usner and wife Dori of Covington; nine grandchildren, Melissa Jones, Rebecca Usner, Derek Usner, Edward Fenstermaker, Patrick Fenstermaker, Jacob Fenstermaker, Kirsten Usner, Molli Usner and Emily Usner; three great grandchildren, Charles, Jessie and Mark Jones; and one sister, Patricia Ellen Usner Weiss of Metairie, LA. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Jacob Mathais Usner, Gerald Cyril Usner, and Arthur Anthony Usner; one sister, Mary Laura Usner Classen and one grandson, Jeremy Miller. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Tuesday, May 25, 2010 from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm. A rosary will be recited at 6:00 pm Tuesday evening and on Wednesday visitation will continue from 9:30 am until the time of services. Pallbearers will include Larry Ellis Usner, Stephen Kearny Usner, Christopher Todd Miller, Edward Charles Fenstermaker, Patrick Lawrence Fenstermaker, Coerte Albert Voorhies, Jr., Bradly Berchman DeHart and Marlin Keith Roberts. Memorial contributions can be made in Mr. Usner's name to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston Street, Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 70503. Personal condolences may be sent to the Usner family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Lawrence Usner

July 17, 1924 - May 22, 2010