Yvelle T. Girouard

Funeral sevices will be held at a 3:00 pm Mass of Christian Burial on Monday, December 8, 2008 at Holy Cross Catholic Church for Yvelle Theriot Girouard, 100, who passed away on December 3, 2008 at Lafayette General Medical Center. Reverend Donald Theriot will be Celebrant of the Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Concelebrants will be Reverend Martin Borcherding and Reverend Floyd Calais. Interment will take place in Holy Mary, Mother of God Cemetery. Mrs. Girouard, a resident of Lafayette, was the daughter of the late Lawrence Theriot of Gueydan and the former Cecile Champagne of Bayou Dularge. As a young woman, she cooked, canned and managed her household. She could fix a water pump if it went out. She began her efforts toward becoming financially self sufficient by putting in long days. She rose early in the morning to milk the cows on the small dairy she ran. Then she returned home to care for her children and to work as a teacher. She later returned to college, where she earned her degree. Yvelle was a true matriarch of the family. She was employed by the Lafayette Parish School Board as an Elementary School Teacher for over 30 years. Her final years of teaching were spent at Edgar Allen Martin Elementary School. After her retirement from teaching, Yvelle loved to travel and visit her family across the country. Until her death, she was very proficient on the computer and loved to keep in touch with loved ones by email. She was an avid UL, LSU and Saints football fan. She loved to play computer games and work crossword puzzles. She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church and served as the first female Lay Minister in her Church Parish; the Daughter's of the American Revolution and the Daughter's of the Confederation. She, loving known to her family and friends as Grandma Belle, is survived by her children, Gloria Bonwell and her spouse, Bill of Wichita, Kansas, Barbara Martin and her spouse, J.P. of Lafayette, Norman Girouard of Friendswood, Texas, Jacqueline Girouard of College Station, Texas and Cynthia "Tina" Girouard of Cecelia; her daughter-in-law, Billie Girouard of Fort Worth, Texas; her grandchildren, Bill Bonwell and his spouse, Heather, Brent Bonwell and his spouse, Sally, Lisa Bonwell Bell, MD and her spouse, John, Aimee Bonwell, Laurie Martin Dupuis and her spouse, Stevie, Karen Martin Holston and her spouse, Craig, Paul Martin and his spouse, Teri, Ross Martin, Leslie Girouard Johnson and her spouse, Scott, Nicole Girouard Byrum and her spouse, Mark, Odette Girouard, Grant Girouard, Jeff Girouard and his spouse, Kimberly, Brent Girouard, Elizabeth Johnston Johnson and her spouse, J.E., Matthew Johnston and his spouse, Dana and Alexis Marie Girouard; twenty two great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. She is also survived by many devoted nieces, nephews and care givers who all were very special and loving to their Aunt Yvelle. They, through their many acts of kindness, showed her the true meaning of extended family and family values. She was preceded in death by her spouse, Whitney L. Girouard; her son, Whitney L. Girouard, Jr.; her daughter-in-law, Rose F. Girouard; and her granddaughter, Evelyn Johnston. The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Sunday from 2:00 pm until 9:00pm and will resume at 8:00 am on Monday until time of services at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 pm on Sunday at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Bill Bonwell, Brent Bonwell, Grant Girouard, Jeff Girouard, Brent Girouard, Paul Martin, Ross Martin and Matthew Johnston. Honorary pallbearers will be her remaining grandchildren. Memorial contributions can be made in the name of Yvelle Theriot Girouard to Holy Cross Catholic Church, 505 Broadmoor Boulevard, Lafayette, Louisiana 70503. Personal condolences may be sent to the Girouard family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Yvelle T. Girouard

August 18, 1908 - December 3, 2008