LydiaA Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Tuesday May 23, 2006 at 12 Noon at St Nicholas Catholic Church for Rev. Mr. Leonard J. Freyou, age 79. Rev. Mr. Freyou died Sunday May 21, 2006 at 8:45 PM at his residence. Interment will follow in Holy Family Cemetery. Celebrant for the funeral will be Rev. Richard Fabre. The family requests visiting hours at St. Nicholas Catholic Church Monday May 22, 2006 from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM and will resume Tuesday May 23, 2006 from 8:00 AM until time of Services. A rosary will be prayed Monday May 22, 2006 at 7:00 PM at the church.. Rev. Mr. Freyou was born in Orange, Texas September 13, 1926. His parents were Leodas (L.L.) Freyou and Alice Sedotal.. He attended St. Mary Catholic School in Orange Texas. In January 1936 his parents moved back to Louisiana of the Freyou Plantation. He completed his education in the pupils schools of Iberia and Lafayette Parishes. He served 26 months in the United States Navy during WW II. Upon returning from the military, he was employed at the New Iberia National Bank on August 26, 1946 and served the community in the financial capacity for 52 years and 5 months, then retired from regular daily banking and continued to serve the bank, now Region Bank and the community on a part time basis for 5 more years. While in banking he continued his education by attending American Institute of Banking classes at the University of Southwestern Louisiana and also in New Orleans. He also did home studies through the LaSalle Extension University in accounting. He holds a graduate certificate in Commercial and Investment Banking. He held various positions during his banking career, Senior Vice President, Cashier, Trust Officer, Education Officer, and Personal Director. Rev. Mr. Freyou joined the Kiwanis Club of New Iberia in August 1972 and served as Secretary/Treasurer of that club since October 1973 through the present time. He was also elected to the Iberia Greater Chamber of Commerce Board in October 1974 and served for three years including secretary for one year. Rev. Mr. Freyou requested from the Bishop a transfer to St. Nicholas Parish, Lydia, La. from Our Lady Of Perpetual Help, New Iberia, La in November 1952, which the Bishop granted. He taught religion (CCD) for St. Nicholas Church Parish for 32 ½ years. He organized the program, served as principal and also taught. He was a religious educator for the Diocese of Lafayette for 10 years in the CCD program. He was an organist and choir director at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and St. Nicholas Church for 17 years. He has been very helpful in his own church parish, St. Nicholas, having given freely of his time and talent in accounting, maintaining financial records, training altar servers and teaching, etc. In 1966 he was honored with the Papal Honor of Knight of St. Gregory by Pope John. His title is Sir Knight Leonard J. Freyou. After completing his deaconate studies at Immaculata Seminary he was ordained a permanent deacon of the Roman Catholic Church on June 25, 1977. His class was the first class of deacons for the Diocese of Lafayette. Beside the title of Sir Knight he now holds the title Rev. Mr. Rev. Mr. Freyou is survived by one sister Elsie Freyou Darcey and one brother Lawrence S. Freyou and his wife Wanda, a sister-in-law Gertrude Romero Freyou, wife of his deceased brother and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Leodas (L.L.) Freyou and Alice Sedotal Freyou, his brother Relius A. Freyou and his son Neil Freyou. Honored to serve as pallbearers will be vested deacons. Honored to serve as honorary pallbearers will be Roy Freyou, Whitney Freyou, and Edelia Johnson. David Funeral Home of New Iberia is in charge of funeral arrangements.
