St. Martinville – A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 1 p.m. on Monday, June 7, 2010, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church for Marie Therese Poulain Bienvenu, 90, who passed away on Thursday, June 3, 2010, at her residence. She is now resting peacefully in the arms of her Heavenly Father and her loving husband, Charles.

Interment followed at St. Michael Cemetery.

Msgr. J. Douglas Courville officiated at the Funeral Mass. Scriptures will be read by Christine McArdle and Camille Copeland.

Mrs. Bienvenu was born and raised in LaHaye du Puis, France (Normandy). It was there that she survived the D-Day invasion at her home, eight miles from the beaches of Normandy. There she met her husband, Charles Bienvenu Jr., who was serving as an American soldier during World War II. They were married for over 60 years.

She was a teacher at Mt. Carmel High School in New Iberia for 11 years, where she taught French and Latin. During her retirement, she volunteered at the church museum, enjoyed giving tours at the church, and meeting the many tourists.

Therese was a very devout Catholic and faithful parishioner of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church. In her free time she enjoyed working crossword puzzles, studying world history, and writing poetry for her children and grandchildren.

Survivors include her son, Charles Bienvenu III and his wife Patsy Lantier Bienvenu of The Woodlands, Texas; two daughters, Annette Bienvenu Lucas and her husband Wayne of Richmond, Va., and Michele Bienvenu Coulon and her husband Dennis of Gretna; seven grandchildren, Danielle Lucas Mitchell, Wayne Edward Lucas Jr., Matthew Lucas, Christopher Coulon, Charles Bienvenu IV, Christine Bienvenu McArdle and Stephen Bienvenu; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles Bienvenu Jr.; her parents, George and Madeleine Blondell Poulain; her sister, Anne Marie Poulain; and her brother, Joseph Poulain.

A rosary was recited at 11 a.m. on Monday.

Pallbearers were Christopher Coulon, Charles Bienvenu IV, Stephen Bienvenu, Matthew Lucas, Charles Halphen, Gerald Halphe, and Michael Hamner.

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.