Libbie Bernard Webre

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Lafayette – A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, at Saint Edmund’s Catholic Church for Libbie Bernard Webre, 80, who died on Aug. 29, 2008, at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, due to complications from Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Celebrant will be Rev. Gary Schexsnider; vocal soloist will be her niece, Loula Bernard Savoy.
Libbie was born on Sept. 11, 1927, in St. Martinville. She was predeceased by her parents, Valerie and Charles Bernard; three brothers, M.A. (Mim) Bernard, Stama and Wilma Bernard; and two sisters, Nadage Bernard and Madia (Sister) Gonsoulin.
She is survived by three brothers Zerven Bernard, Charles Bernard Jr. and N.D. (Nick) Bernard, all of Lafayette; 21 nieces and nephews, 40 grandnieces and grandnephews, many, many friends, and her cat, Princess.
“She always was the ‘light’ in any room she entered – she had a charisma that was magnetic and entertaining,” said her niece, Valerie Barnes. Libbie was a classic bobby soxer in the 50s, part of a guitar folk trio in the 60s, danced disco in the 70s, gave a wondrous table-top tribute to Tina Turner at a family reunion in the 80’s, and was “dressed to the nines” at a recent Mardi Gras Ball. “She was like a second mother, and a true friend to so many of her nieces and nephews,” said Winnie Gonsoulin, another niece.
She lived most of her life in Lafayette, working in the oil and gas industry. She was very active in Desk and Derrick Club, her Altar Society, and the Catholic Daughters of America.
Libbie was also the consummate traveler she said that she was determined to explore the world once she saw the road outside her childhood home in St. Martinville. To the east, it led to the Bayou Teche, but to the west, Libbie said the road seemed to continue forever, and she never stopped traveling on it.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Miles Perret Cancer Center (www.milesperretcenter.org), St. Edmunds Catholic Community or Sjogrens Syndrome Foundation (www.sjogrens.org/donate.jsp) or one’s favorite charity.