Mary Mendenhal Albaugh Usner

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church for Mary Mendenhal Albaugh Usner, 92, who passed away on July 11, 2024. Reverend Patrick Broussard, Pastor of Our Lady Wisdom Catholic Church, will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Reverend Chester Arceneaux will con celebrate. A private burial will take place in St. John Cemetery on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 1:30 pm. Mary, a native of San Antonio, Texas and a resident of Lafayette, was the daughter of the late Ellis Franklin Albaugh, II and the former Mary Mason. She met the love of her life and husband, Larry, while they were working for Amerada Hess in San Antonio. When Larry passed away in 2010 they had been married for 57 years. She was a loving wife and mother of six children and an active member in the Lafayette community. They first met Monsignor Sigur, who was then Fr. Sigur, when they moved to Lafayette and joined Our Lady of Fatima Parish. She and Larry became immediate friends with him and followed him to Our Lady of Wisdom Church Parish where they became parishioners and served in many capacities. Through her beautiful friendship with Monsignor Sigur she came to love the Catholic faith, which led to her receiving instructions from him for conversion to the Catholic Church. She answered every request Monsignor Sigur made of her with an immediate yes, which led her to many years of service with several organizations now under Catholic Charities of Acadiana. The most dear to her heart was St. Joseph’s Diner, to which she was devoted since it’s opening day and was dearly loved by the many precious souls she served. She was a member of the Junior League of Lafayette, embracing lifelong friendships and serving on numerous community philanthropic projects. She was a member of the Geological Auxiliary of Lafayette and was a long time volunteer at Faith House and served as board president. She and Larry were active supporters of many organizations including: Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Church and Student Center, Serra Club, Carmelite Monastery, Tarahumara Mission with Fr. Luis G. Verplancken Aldayturriaga, S.J. and Covenant House to name a few. Mary loved cooking and baking for her family and friends and her joy was having her family at the dinner table every night. When the last of her six children graduated from high school, she started a small business baking granola and sweets, which became the famous “Miss Mary’s Pralines and Things.” Her Honey Baked Granola quickly became a hit and was a favorite at Red Lerille’s Health Club and many local grocery stores. Soon her cookies and pralines were selling locally and being shipped across the US, Canada and Europe. She enjoyed owning a small business and the new relationships she made, but the one thing she enjoyed the most about Miss Mary’s Pralines and Things was working side by side every day with her beloved husband, Larry. She is survived by her four daughters, Roxana Marie Usner, Beverley Ann Usner LeBlanc, Mary Elizabeth "Libby" Usner Fenstermaker, and Laura Patricia Usner Miller; two sons, Larry Ellis Usner and wife, Karen, and Stephen Kearny Usner and wife, Dori; ten grandchildren, Melissa Usner Jones, Rebecca Usner McKee, Derek Christopher Usner, Edward Charles Fenstermaker, Patrick Lawrence Fenstermaker, Jacob Warren Fenstermaker, Kirsten Usner McCall, Molli Victoria Usner, Emily Jean Usner, and Chloe Leigh Usner; ten great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ellis Franklin Albaugh, II and Mary Mason Albaugh; husband, Lawrence Usner; grandson, Jeremy Ryan Miller; two brothers, Kearny Mason Albaugh and Ellis Franklin Albaugh, III. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home - Bertrand on Monday, July15, 2024 from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 pm on Monday evening in the funeral home. Visiting hours will continue on Tuesday, July 16, 2024 from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. Pallbearers will be Larry Ellis Usner, Stephen Kearny Usner, Derek Christopher Usner, Edward Charles Fenstermaker, Patrick Lawrence Fenstermaker, Jacob Warren Fenstermaker, Charles Edward Jones, Jessie Lee Jones, Mark Anthony Jones, and Darryl Eric Walls. Donations may be made in her memory to Our Lady of Wisdom Capital Campaign, 501 E. St. Mary Blvd., Lafayette, LA 70503, or to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 70503. The family would like to thank the staff of Calcutta House for their compassionate care. Personal condolences may be sent to the Usner family at: www.delhommefuneralhome.com Mary Albaugh Usner and her family were cared for and entrusted final arrangements to Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA. Copyright Delhomme Funeral Homes, Inc. July 2024.

Mary Mendenhal Albaugh Usner

December 5, 1931 - July 11, 2024