A Mass of Christian Burial for Mrs. Gertrude Lawes Landry, 97, will be held at 10:00AM on Monday, October 13, 2014 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Erath with Fr. Bill Melancon officiating. Interment will follow at St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Paincourtville, LA. The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Sunday, October 12, 2014, at David Funeral Home in Erath from 2:00PM until 6:00PM, with a recitation of the rosary at 4:00PM. Visitation will resume on Monday, October 13 from 8:00AM until the time of service. Mrs. Landry died at age 97 peacefully in her sleep on October 11, 2014, at Eastridge Assisted Living in Abbeville, where she had been a resident for almost 8 years. Gert, as she was known by her friends and family, was born on February 28, 1917, at her family home, Dugas & LeBlanc Plantation, in Paincourtville, Louisiana. Mrs. Landry was also a charter member of the Erath Court of the Catholic Daughters of America, which began in 1954. Mrs. Landry served as the first Vice Regent of the organization in 1954, and was named the Grand Regent in 1955. She served two terms as Grand Regent, serving until 1957. Throughout the years, she continued to stay active in the organization, and has received several awards through the years from the Court. Mrs. Landry was named the Citizen of the Year in 1974 and Catholic Daughter of the Year in 1975. Mrs. Landry was also a charter member of Les Demitasse Ladies Club in Erath when the club was founded in 1955. She went on to serve the club as its President. Mrs. Landry was also a charter member of the 12 & Go Social Club. Her husband, J.P., was instrumental in organizing the club in the early 1950s when the Erath Lions Club dissolved. The club was founded to organize social functions for the Erath community. Along with her husband, Mrs. Landry organized the annual dance and suppers for the club. The Landrys also organized many trips to the LSU football games and to the New Orleans Fairgrounds. Their home served as the gathering place for friends as well as the "bus stop". Mrs. Landry was very active in events at Erath High School, too. Each year she helped to organize and decorate the Erath High School Athletic Banquets. Mrs. Landry was often seen driving around town asking people for flowers out of their yard in order to decorate the gym for the banquets. The Landrys were in charge of the banquets until Mr. Landry's retirement in 1976. Mr. Landry died in 1994; however, Mrs. Landry continued to be a member of the Vermilion Parish Retired Teachers Association until her death. Mrs. Landry frequently visited many shut-ins in the Erath area community over the years. She brightened their day by praying the rosary with them. At Christmas time, "Ms. Gert" could be found at many of the area nursing homes delivering Christmas treats and spreading good will. Mrs. Landry moved to Erath in 1948, when she became the wife of J. P. Landry, a teacher at Erath High School. She immediately took an active part in the community by hosting the Erath 4th of July Celebration Queens pageants and teas in her home. She and her husband continued this practice when the Erath 4th of July Celebration evolved into the Vermilion Parish Ag Fair from 1952-1955. When the Ag Fair moved to Kaplan in 1956 and the Erath 4th of July Celebration resumed, the Landrys continued hosting the pageants and teas into the 1970's. Mrs. Landry was the parent of four children: Inkie (David Hildreth), Tootie, Joey, and Jerry Landry (Kim Bodine.) She was also the grandparent of six: Trey and Tim Roth, Lindsey Belfour (Joey Belfour), Morgan, Connor, and Brady Landry and the great grandmother of Parker Roth. Mrs. Landry was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, J. P. Landry, Sr., her parents Lucille Dugas Lawes LeBlanc and Robert Henry Lawes, a sister, Marie Louise Lawes Becnel, and a brother, Henry Robert Lawes, 2 step-brothers Albert LeBlanc and Dr. Louis LeBlanc. Pallbearers will be Connor Landry, Brady Landry, Tim Roth, Trey Roth, Joey Belfour, and David Hildreth. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Vincent, Ben Hildreth, and Leo Gaudin. Readings will be done by Liz Segura Vice, goddaughter, and Robert Vincent, life-long family friend. Gift bearers will be Lindsey Belfour and Morgan Landry, granddaughters. The family would like to thank the following for their excellent care and compassion over the years: Drs. Bernard and Ronald Lahasky and their staff, the staff of Eastridge Assisted Living, all the private duty staff, and Heart of Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (700 S. Broadway St., Erath LA 70533), St. Elizabeth Catholic Church (119 Louisiana 403, Paincourtville, LA 70391), Ascension Catholic School (311 St Vincent St, Donaldsonville, LA 70346), or Erath High School Technology Fund (808 S. Broadway St., Erath LA 70533) in Gertrude Landry's name. David Funeral Home of Erath at 209 E. Putnam St. (337)937-0405 will be handling the arrangements.
