Charles A. Bernard

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, February 6, 2017 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church for Charles A. Bernard, Jr., 98, who passed away on February 2, 2017 at his home in Lafayette. Entombment will take place in Holy Mary Mother of God Mausoleum. Charles, was a native of St. Martinville and a resident of Lafayette since 1949. He was one of eight children born to the late Charles Bernard, Sr. and Valerie Judice Bernard. He married Nelda M. Thomas on June 16, 1941 and they celebrated 72 years together before her death. He was a WWII Army Veteran and was in Berlin just as Germany was surrendering. After graduating SLI, he began his teaching career in a one room school house with grades 1-11 in Stephensville, LA. He later taught Industrial Arts at Hamilton Training School on the SLI campus. From there he continued his education obtaining a Masters degree at LSU and retired as the head of the Audio Visual Dept at USL. Charles was a lifetime artist and craftsman. He worked in every medium imaginable (wood, leather, silver, copper, stain glass, ceramics, water color, etc.). He shared his passion with many through his night classes, his Industrial Art students at the elementary and college level, and at a Summer Camp for Boys and Girls, Camp Choctaw. An avid traveler all of his life, he still found time in his retirement to work with troubled youth and to serve the sick and homebound in our community as a Eucharistic Minister. He is survived by his four children, Linda Cucullu and husband, Carl, Neil Bernard and daughter in law, Cyndi, Keith Bernard and wife, Marcia and Chuck Bernard and wife, Rene'e; his brother, Nicholas (N.D.) Bernard; grandchildren, Kim, Keith, Karla, Sean, Grant, Ross, Sarah, Camille, Robert and Patrick and twelve great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife; brothers, Stama, Misiele and Zerven and sisters, Nadage, Madia and Libbie. The family is truly grateful for the care and concern shown by his caregivers, Virginia Broussard, Emma Mouton, Makayla Despanie and Nicole Clark. Special thanks are not enough for the exceptional attention, love and tenderness of Ashley Carter. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home on Monday, February 6, 2017 from 9:00AM until time of service. A Rosary will be recited at 10:00AM in the funeral home. Personal condolences may be sent to the Bernard family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Charles A. Bernard

August 7, 1918 - February 2, 2017