Loving Wife and Mother New Iberia " Funeral Services will be conducted for Mrs. Donald Blanchard the former Gilda Simoneaux, Age 82, at 10:00AM Saturday February 21, 2009 at St. Peters Catholic Church with Father Ed Degeyter officiating. Interment will follow in Holy Family Mausoleum. Visitation will be Friday February 20, 2009 from 5:00PM until 8:00PM with a Rosary being prayed at 6:30PM. Visitation will resume Saturday from 8:00AM until service time. A native of Charenton and longtime resident of New Iberia Mrs. Blanchard died Thursday February 19, 2009 at 1:11AM in a local healthcare facility. She was married to her loving husband Donald for 60 years. Mrs. Gilda was a volunteer Pink Lady at Iberia Medical Center for 20 years. She taught religion for St. Peters Church for many years. She enjoyed bowling and going to the casino. She had much love for her pokeno group. She also assisted patients at Consolata Nursing Home from many years. Survivors include her husband Donald Blanchard of New Iberia, three sons; Kenneth Blanchard and wife Jane of Lafayette, Jody P. Blanchard of New Orleans and Travis Blanchard and wife Kimberly of Abbeville, one daughter; Joy B. DeCourt and husband Jay of New Iberia, grandchildren; Kenneth Blanchard, Jr. of Lafayette, Elizabeth Couvillion and Rebecca Agent both of Baton Rouge, Bradley Blanchard of New Orleans, Travis, Jr. and Brittan Blanchard both of Lafayette, Jacob and Olivia Blanchard both of Abbeville, Jeremy DeCourt of St. Martinville and Jamie DeCourt of New Iberia, great grandchildren; Camille Blanchard of Lafayette, Benjamin and Clara Jane Couvillion and Lila Jane Agent all of Baton Rouge and Allie DeCourt of St. Martinville. She was preceded in death by her parents; O.J. and Lucinda Alleman Simoneaux, a grandson; Benjamin Joseph Blanchard, brothers; Wibry, Wilbert, Allen, Reynold, Nathan and Breland Simoneaux, sisters; Beulah Lancon, Esther Kern, Vivian LeBlanc, Verena Kern, Irene Pulley and Joyce Meeks and her in-laws Joseph Frank Blanchard and Rose Verret Blanchard. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Blanchard Jr., Bradley Blanchard, Travis Blanchard, Jr., Jacob Blanchard, Jeremy DeCourt and Ronnie Sinitere. David Funeral Home, 1101 Trotter St, New Iberia, La. (337)369-6336 is in charge of arrangements.
