Leroy L. Matherne

September 8, 1917 — January 3, 2015
Funeral services for Leroy L. Matherne will be held at an 11 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian burial Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charenton. He will be laid to rest with military honors in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery. The Rev. Gregory Cormier will be the celebrant for the Mass and conduct the services.
A gathering of family and friends will be held Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Ibert’s Mortuary from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with the rosary being prayed at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Ibert’s Mortuary from 8 a.m. until the time of dismissal at 10:30 a.m.
Leroy, a loving husband, father and grandfather, was born on Sept. 8, 1917, in Pierre Part to the late Paul Matherne and Christine Breaux Matherne. On April 9, 1945, he married the love of his life, Bessie Ruiz and the two settled in Charenton, where they dedicated their lives to each other and their family. Mr. Leroy was a veteran of the United States Army having served during World War II, and serving in Pearl Harbor at the time of the infamous bombing. He worked for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 20 years as an inspector out of the Lafayette District. He passed away at the age of 97 on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at Iberia Medical Center in New Iberia.
Survivors include two children, Gary Matherne and his wife, Joan, of Baton Rouge, and Iris M. Seneca and her husband, Michael, of Bayou Vista; two grandchildren, Michele S. Picou and her husband, Billy, of Patterson, and Eric Seneca, of New Iberia; four great-grandchildren, Devin and Lexi Seneca, and Taylor and Caitlyn Picou; and four sisters, Vernice Theriot, Pearl Ross, Melva Simoneaux and Ruth Daigle.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bessie Ruiz Matherne; two brothers, Percy and Lloyd Matherne; and four sisters, May Rogacki, Audrey Hedges, Virginia Matherne and Jane Clement.
For those preferring to make memorial contributions, the family asks that you consider the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), at P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301, or online at www.dav.org/Donate.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary Inc., 1007 Main St., Franklin, LA; phone, 337-828-5426.