The Life of Lee John Ducharme
Lee John Ducharme went to be with Our Lord on November 25, 2013 at the age of 93. He died peacefully at his home after a long illness.
Funeral Services will be conducted by Deacon Cody F. Miller in the Delhomme Funeral Home Chapel of the Flowers on Friday, November 29, 2013 at 2:00 pm.
The burial will be at Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Ducharme was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and a life-long resident. He attended Cathedral school and Lafayette Senior High. He was the middle child of five siblings. In 1942, he enlisted in the US Army during World War ll. During his training in Missouri, he met his beloved wife and they were married in 1944. Soon after, he was shipped overseas and served in France in the 140th Hospital Evacuation Unit. After returning from the war, he worked with his father and brothers at Archie Ducharme & Sons of Lafayette. Years later, he became co-owner of Ducharme Brothers Construction. All you have to do is look around town and you will see Lee''s handiwork such as churches, banks, schools, of?ce building and restaurants. He was always an active citizen of Lafayette and involved in many clubs and organizations including Krewe of Zeus and Lafayette Kennel Club. He had many pastimes and hobbies such as artist, musician, gardening, fishing, woodworking, bird watching, and bee keeping. Lee and Ruth traveled across the county in their RV, camping from California to Florida, and from Michigan to Mexico. He raised many animals over the years, but always kept a faithful dog by his side.
He spoke Cajun French ?uently and because of this, he was used often as a translator during his service in World War ll in France. Affectionately, he sang French songs lovingly to all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, while bouncing them on his knee. He was a faithful member of the former Trinity Lutheran Church of Lafayette, and was also a member of First Lutheran Church of Lafayette where he served and loved the Lord. He will always be remembered as a loving, husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great grandfather. He loved to cook for his family and was known especially for his turkey gumbo after Thanksgiving. He worked hard, played hard and loved hard.
Left behind to cherish his memory, are his six children, Kathleen Ducharme Hamilton, David Lee Ducharme and his wife Marlene, Thomas Lee Ducharme Sr. and his wife Roxie of Panama City, FL, Rebecca Ruth Ducharme, Jeffrey Lee Ducharme and his wife Andrea, Gary Lee Ducharme and his wife Jamie; 12 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; one sister, Gertrude Ducharme LeBlanc; one brother, Robert Ducharme and his wife Dolores Hebert Ducharme; and loving nieces, and nephews; and a host of lifelong friends.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 62 years, Ruth Weisenborn Ducharme, his parents, Archie Ducharme and Edith Doucet Ducharme; his brother Rex Ducharme and his sister Annie Ducharme Bourgeois.
The family requests visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home on Thursday, November 28, 2013 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Friday from 9:00 am until time of services.
Pallbearers will be his seven grandsons, Dwayne Hamilton of San Antonio, TX, Michael Battle
of Fort Worth, TX, Stephen Battle of Fort Worth, TX, Thomas Ducharme, Jr of Panama City Beach, FL, Mark Ducharme of Plauquemine,LA, Charles Ducharme of Ruston, and Shawn Ducharme of Lafayette.
A special thanks to Hospice of Acadiana, especially to his nurse Jo and sitters, Judy and Samantha. On behalf of the family, donations may be made to the Hospice of Acadiana at 2600 Johnston St #200, Lafayette, LA 70503.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.
