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Kenneth and Belinda Hagrave of Kaplan are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Katelyn Richelle Hargrave, to Blake James Landry, son of Darryl and Carolyn Landry of Maurice.
The wedding will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2017, at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kaplan.
Grandparents of the future bride are Leona Breaux of Kaplan and the late Houise “Bud” Hargrave, Carmen C. Guilbeaux of Lafayette and the late Murphy Guilbeaux, Sr. of Kaplan.
Katelyn is a 2008 graduate of Kaplan High School, a 2013 graduate of UL Lafayette with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a 2016 Master’s Degree in Counselor Education. She is employed at Compass Behavioral Center of Crowley as a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor.
Grandparents of the prospective groom are Mr. and Mrs. Lurby Broussard of Maurice and Mr. and Mrs. Aston Ray “Naunchie” Landry of Erath.
Blake is a 2009 graduate of North Vermilion High School. He is employed with Bodin Oil Recovery.

Doris “DL”
Leon Menard

Funeral Services for Doris “DL” Leon Menard will begin on Sunday, July 30, 2017 at Family Life Church, 2223 Dulles Drive Lafayette, LA at 2 p.m. until 10 p.m. Visitation will resume on
Monday, July 31, 2017 at Family Life Church at 8 a.m. until the time of the Funeral Service at 3 p.m. The honor of officiating the Funeral Service has been bestowed upon Mr. Menard’s son, Todd Menard, Pastor of Family Life Church. Mr. Menard will be laid to rest at Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery in Erath, LA.
“DL” Menard was born Doris Leon Menard on April 14, 1932 to the late Ophie and Helena Primeaux Menard in Erath, LA. Until his passing on the morning of Thursday, July 27, 2017, he always considered Erath home. In 1951, DL married the late Lou Ella Menard and to that union was born seven children. Though he married young, his love and devotion to Lou Ella would last 49 wonderful years.
DL was a legend to many, but we knew him first as a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather. His family was everything to him and gave him the drive to always strive for better. Having lived through the Great Depression, he wanted to be sure that his family was well provided for. As a young man, DL worked at a gas station in his hometown of Erath.
This is where he wrote his renowned hit, “La Porte d’en Arriere” (The Back Door). Later on, as the owner of DL Menard’s Chair factory, he proudly crafted rocking chairs, furniture and many artistic wood workings. His passion for music, which began at the age of 16 when he first picked up a guitar, never left. He continued to play music on weekends, which propelled DL down a path with endless opportunities, rewards and blessings. This eventually led to a fanbase of millions of people all over the world.
In 1994, DL Menard received the “National Endowment for the Arts Heritage” award and in 2009, he was inducted into the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame. His music would have him travel to 38 countries, 42 States and lead him to be nominated for two Grammy Awards. What many would consider DL’s most well-known hit, “The Back Door”, has sold over 1 million copies. This song is still enjoyed and played by so many to this day, and is often referred to as the “Cajun National Anthem”. His music had great influence, not only with many young developing musicians but well-established musicians as well.
DL was a humble man, and if you knew him, you’d realize how much he believed in giving back to those that supported his music career. Often times, he would play for benefits to help those impacted by disasters or medical issues. He would also lend his talent to promote the French Immersion programs in the public schools in Acadiana. His favorite was Cajun Day at the local schools. He had so much to offer others and never missed an opportunity to help his fellow man.
DL will be remembered not only for his music, but also for his “one liners”. His sense of humor was definitely a crowd pleaser and anyone who knows DL, knows he didn’t mind the attention.
He leaves our world a better place not only for the gifts he gave us through his music, but also for the love he gave his family and his fans. We thank him for sharing his life with us in so many ways.
Doris “DL” Leon Menard leaves a lasting legacy with his seven children Larry ( Lenora) Menard, Rebecca (David) Moreland, Doris “Boze” Menard, Curt ( Arlene) Menard, Dick ( Carla) Menard, Todd ( Tonya) Menard and Darrel Menard; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-seven great-grandchildren; two step-grandchildren
Serving in the honor as pallbearers are grandsons Jeremy Menard, Josiah Menard, Joshua Menard, Trey Menard, Brandon Menard and Nathan Menard. Honorary pallbearers will be Dillion Menard and Gavin Menard.
The family of D.L. Menard would like to say a special thank you to those who have extended prayer and support throughout this time. No matter how small the act of kindness, it is greatly appreciated.
You can share your condolences, words of comfort or send memorial gifts for the family of DL Menard at www.lafuneralservices.com.
“DL” Menard and his family were cared for and entrusted final arrangements to Louisiana Funeral Services of Broussard (337) 330-8006.

February 6, 1946 ~ July 16, 2017

ABBEVILLE — A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday, July 30, 2017, at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Wilbert Lee Abshire, 71, who died Sunday, July 16, 2017 at Abbeville General Hospital. Pastor Ronald Roy will officiate the service.
Wilbert is survived by his daughter, Hope Clements and her husband, Jonathan of Abbeville; grandchild, Justin Clements of Abbeville; and sister, Phyllis Roy and her husband, Ronald of Mexico.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Joseph Abshire and the former Adley Baudoin; child, Charity Abshire; and brothers, Dale Abshire and Warren Hardy.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Sunday, July 30, 2017 from 12:00 PM until time of service.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

It takes special people to want to volunteer their time to create something that touches and helps heal a  heart of a broken family.
There are 40 to 50 ladies from Acadiana, who have joined forces to create “Steps to Heaven.”
These ladies, ages 18 to 81, spend hours and hours transforming wedding dresses, prom dresses, and baptism dresses into  burial remembrances for families who have lost an infant through a miscarriage, still birth or infant death.
They turn the dresses into burial gowns, pocket blankets, and keepsake pillows free of charge. They also sew day gowns  to be worn by premature infants who are in NICU. The day gowns are assembled by Velcro. 
One wedding dress has enough fabric to create at least 10 burial gowns. 
The group provides at least 50 gown sets which includes the gown, bonnet, a keepsake pillow and Holy Land Stone angel or a pocket blanket set with keepsake pillows and Holy Land Stone angels to Abbeville General and Women’s and Children’s Hospital a month.
Each part of the team has a different role to play in creating a gown. There are some who are in charge of collecting dresses, while there are others who are called “rippers.” They are handed a wedding gown and they have the task of ripping apart the seams and disassembling the dress. Once it is no longer a dress, then the material is handed down to a seamstress. The seamstress is the person who creates the burial dresses.
It could take anywhere from two hours to eight hours to sew one dress. 
Gaynell Breaux of Mire is a seamstress, who enjoys working with color.   She volunteers her time to this project because it touches home.
“I lost a grandbaby,” said Breaux. “She lived two hours and 15 minutes.  My daughter is so excited right now because of what I am doing.”
After her daughter’s baby passed away, an elderly lady gave her daughter some knitted clothes so she had something to remember her daughter, Macy, with. Today, she still has the knitted clothes. 
“I do it in memory of Macy,” Breaux said.  
Steps to Heaven  began small by former Vermilion Parish teacher Phyllis Berberich. Berberich, who taught for 33 years,  began sewing infant burial gowns from a bridal gown donated by LeBlanc Elementary School’s faculty.
In March of 2017, Berberich began the Cuddle Program at Women’s & Children’s Hospital where she discovered how great of a need there was in Acadiana for helping FAMILIES IN CRISIS. Since then, the organization has really grown. Thanks to the Internet, information about this organization has spread quickly.
Over the last four months, bridal dresses from throughout the United States have been arriving at her house. She has at least 50 bridal gowns on standby. That’s enough to create more than 500 burial gowns and/or pocket blankets.  In the last four months,  around 100 bridal gowns have been donated.
“The community has been so overwhelming and supportive in donating,” said Berberich.
Once a month, the group meets at Berberich’s house. Some bring their sewing machine, while others bring their items to rip dresses or crochet needles and yarn to crochet pocket blankets and keepsake pillows.  
When the gowns and other items are completed, someone delivers them to the hospitals.   
“We just know we are touching families,” she said.
Billie Joe Broussard, who lives in Abbeville, heard about the organization while attending a Catholic Daughter’s meeting.
“It is close to my heart because we had our fourth grandchild born that morning (of the meeting),” said Broussard.  “I knew I wanted to get involved.  I cannot sew, therefore what can I do?”
She became a ripper.
“Giving back is what I wanted to do,” Broussard added. “Having healthy grandchildren, makes me blessed.”
Berberich held a meeting in the Abbeville library on Thursday to educate potential new volunteers and go over other wants and needs of Steps to Heaven.
The group welcomes other donations:
• Ziploc bags for supplies and delivery to local hospitals
• Thread for sewing
• Velcro strips
• Pastel and white colored batiste fabric for burial gowns
• 100 percent cotton infant print fabric for day gowns
• Sewing machine needles
• Financial donations
* Memorial Holy Land Stone Angels

Donations can be sent to: Steps to Heaven; P.O. Box 1453, Abbeville, La., 70511 or the Vermilion Parish Library Erath Branch.