Paul John Blanchet

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, March 17, 2014, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for Paul John Blanchet, Jr., 82, who passed away peacefully at his residence on March 14, 2014. Interment will be in the Holy Mary Mother of God Mausoleum in Lafayette. Reverend Monsignor Charles J. Mallet will be the Celebrant of the Funeral Mass. Con-celebrants will be Reverend Monsignor Richard Mouton, Reverend Chester Arceneaux and Reverend Neil McNeill. Lectors will be Jennifer Sibille and Danielle Blanchet Babineaux. Gift bearers will be Colleen Blanchet, Ellen Blanchet LeJeune, Camille Blanchet, Michelle Blanchet, Jeanne Blanchet, Caroline Blanchet, Katie Blanchet and Aimee Blanchet. He is survived by his four sons, Paul John Blanchet, III, and his wife, Ginger, Judge David A. Blanchet and his wife, Paula, Thomas J. Blanchet and his wife, Rachel, William M. Blanchet and his wife Rebecca; two daughters, Paulette M. Blanchet, M.D., and Joan Eve Blanchet Sibille and her close friend, Kent Fawcett; thirteen grandchildren, Colleen Blanchet, Ellen Blanchet LeJeune, Danielle Blanchet Babineaux, Camille Blanchet, Michelle Blanchet, Jennifer Sibille, Andrew Sibille, Brian Sibille, Jeanne Blanchet, Caroline Blanchet, Katie Blanchet, Aimee Blanchet and William Blanchet, Jr.; great grandchildren, Elise and Ansley Graveson, Connor, Liam, Pierce and Foster Lagarde; step great grandchildren, Kennedy, Fletcher, Addison and Myah LeJeune; his sister, Mary Alice Blanchet Prejean; numerous nieces and nephews; and special friend, Dot Ducote. He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, the former Joan Eve Miguez, his parents, Paul J. Blanchet, Sr., and Anita Begneaud Blanchet, and his sister, Joyce Tee Blanchet Guilliot. Paul (affectionately known as “T-Paul”), a lifelong resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, was born on March 17, 1931. He graduated from Lafayette High School in 1948, received a B.S. Degree in Business Administration in 1953 and a B.S. Degree in Geology in 1957 from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (SLI), now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (ULL). He was a 1952 graduate of the Naval Reserve Officer Candidate School and served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1955. He was assigned to the USS Oakhill LSD 7, serving in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. Paul was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and a friend to all. He was also the landlord to generations of ULL students at the Townhouse Apartments near campus. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Home Bank from 1967 to 2003, serving as Chairman for several years. Paul was a member of the Board of Directors of Lafayette’s Downtown Development Authority. He was active in the Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association, serving as President, Vice President, Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors. He served on the Board of Directors of the Krewe of Gabriel and reigned as King Gabriel XLVI in 1985. He was also a member of The Musket Club. Paul was a parishioner of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and former President, Treasurer and member of the Board of Directors of the Cardinal Newman Foundation. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and conservationist, as well as a member of the Louisiana Bass Masters; he was the former State Record Holder for largest striped bass caught in Louisiana and Texas. Pallbearers will be his four sons and three grandsons. The family requests that visitation be observed from 2:00 pm until 7:00 pm on Sunday, March 16, 2014. A rosary will be prayed at 6:30 pm on Sunday. Visitation will resume at 9:00 am on Monday until time of services. The family wishes to thank caregivers Bryan Hebert and Alan Davis, long time employee and friend, Genevieve Catalan and Hearts of Hospice for the compassionate care given to their Dad. Personal condolences may be sent to the Blanchet family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Memorial contributions may be made to the De La Salle Christian Brothers, 1522 Carmel Dr, Lafayette, LA 70501 or the Order of Discalced Carmelite Nuns, 1250 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Paul John Blanchet

March 17, 1931 - March 14, 2014