The Life of Elton Bergeron
Elton Bergeron died this past Thursday, April 26, 2012. A life that was eventful, interesting and full, came to an end that day. He was surrounded by members of his family as he succumbed peacefully and drifted off to his reward. His children would like to thank his caregivers, nurses and staff at Magnolia Estates, for his comfort in those last days and Hospice of Acadiana for helping us to maintain his comfort and helping him to maintain his dignity as he passed on. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2012, at a 1:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial in Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Scott. Interment will follow in Lafayette Memorial Park.
Reverend Mario Romero, Associate Pastor of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Scott, will be the Celebrant of the Funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Lectors will be Summer Whittington and Jace Bergeron. Giftbearers will be Emily Bergeron and Summer Leblanc. Karen Broussard, organist and soloist, will sing "Amazing Grace", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", "How Great Thou Art" and "Pie Jesu" for the services.
Elton was born on April 19, 1920 in Scott, Louisiana. Born to sharecropping parents, he began to work the fields at a young age. Growing up in the Great Depression, he joined most of the rest of his generation in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Also, like the rest of his generation, the aptly named "Greatest Generation", he went off to war in the early 1940's. He served in the European Theatre as part of Patton's Third Army, his role being a cook in the Quartermaster Corps. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1945, at which time he returned home.
Elton sometimes said that the only man he ever worked for was "Uncle Sam". That proved true as he was his own boss in two successful business ventures. The first was a result of his taking advantage of the G.I. Bill for his service in the military. He went to school and became a master baker. He then opened Coon's Pie Shop in Scott, Louisiana and served the buying public for many years in that endeavor. Later in life, he opened a retail seafood outlet in Lafayette called The Crab House and began serving boiled seafood. In 1976, after many "hits and misses", he developed a recipe for a delicacy called seafood boudin. Along with his younger son, Lynn, he operated this business in north Lafayette for many years.
He enjoyed his years in retirement and semi-retirement by spending time with his family, working on and revising his seafood boudin recipe, working part-time in the wholesale seafood business and visiting friends and relatives.
Survivors include his three children, Deanna Leleux (John), Al Bergeron (Marybeth) and Lynn Bergeron; five grandchildren, Shannon Picard (Charles), Tiffany Leblanc (Neal), Casey Bergeron, Jace Bergeron and Emily Bergeron; three great grandchildren, Summer Leblanc, Logan Picard and Chelsea Picard; three step-children, Carroll Thibodeaux (Peggy), Richard Thibodeaux (Sally) and Elaine Thibodeaux; three sisters, Lena Miller, Mary Jane Robin (O'Dell) and Joyce Mire; and a host of nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome and Marie Trahan Bergeron; one daughter, Judy Bergeron; seven brothers, Howard (infant) Bergeron, Harris Bergeron, John Wilson Bergeron, Jerome (Jay) Bergeron Jr., Joe Bergeron, Nelson (Twin) Bergeron, Andrus (Brud) Bergeron and George Bergeron; one sister, Dorothy, who died in infancy; his first wife and mother of his four children, the former Amy Lou Domingue; his second wife, Mildred Adams; and his third wife, the former Ms. Audrey Thibodeaux.
Pallbearers will be Al Bergeron, Lynn Bergeron, Casey Bergeron, Jace Bergeron, John Leleux and Neal LeBlanc. Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles Picard and Logan Picard.
So now a full and rich life has come to an end. We say goodbye to a man who in his lifetime witnessed a range of historic events from The Great Depression, to World War II, to a man walking on the moon, to the dawning of a new century, to the computer age in which we live today. We say goodbye to a man called "Pop", "Tan" and "Nonc Tan". We say goodbye to a life fully lived.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Mr. Bergeron's name to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503 or on their website at www.HospiceAcadiana.com.
Visitation was observed in Martin & Castille's SCOTT location on Friday, April 27, 2012 from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM and will continue today, Saturday, from 8:00 AM until time of service.
A Rosary was prayed on Friday at 6:00 PM in Martin & Castille Funeral Home.
Martin & Castille-SCOTT-802 Alfred St., Scott, LA 70583, 337-234-2320
