St. Martinville – A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church for Velma Bourque Berard, 84, who passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at Lafayette General Medical Center.

Interment followed at St. Michael Cemetery.

Msgr. Jeff DeBlanc officiated at the Funeral Mass.

Mrs. Berard retired in 1984 with the State of Louisiana, Department of Welfare. She was a parishioner of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church, where she was a member of the Choir and was an adorer in the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration. She was a volunteer at the Petit Paris Museum in St. Martinville for a number of years. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and bowling.

Survivors include two sons, Daniel Berard and his wife Christine of St. Martinville, and Steven Berard and his wife Donna of Loreauville; four daughters, Carolyn Berard of New Iberia, Katherine Berard Deshotels and her husband Jim of New Iberia, Claire Berard of St. Martinville, and Betty Berard Broussard and her husband Robert of Coteau Holmes; one brother, Phillip Bourque and his wife Sis of Morgan City; one sister, Oline Gary of St. Martinville; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Felix “Peck” Berard; her parents, Superville and Josephine Barras Bourque; one brother, Wade Bourque; and three sisters, Lucille Bourque Berard, Henrietta Bourque Bienvenu and Theresa Bourque Faught.

A rosary was recited at 7 p.m. on Tuesday.

Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville was in charge of arrangements.

To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com.