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The Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) hosted their first Christmas Party Project for children and families in the program on Friday; a project that took two months to organize with hopes to grow.
Stacey Mire, supervisor for the Department of Children and Family Services, wanted to do more in her career in helping foster children and families. After realizing that Lafayette had several community and church support, she wanted to do the same for Vermilion Parish.
“Being an employee of DCFS, I could not organize this project myself” she says “I knew exactly who I wanted for the job; Lindsay Mencacci Schexnider who is a social worker through Abbeville General.”
About a year ago, Schexnider reached out to Harvest Time for support as well as parishioners asking to sponsor a family while Mire began working with Foster Friends in Lafayette in efforts to collaborate with Schexnider in getting an organization together in the parish for the children and families that are involved with DCFS.
“A lot of times, the kids need prom dresses, sports gear or birthday gifts” Schexnider says “Just a small bit to bring them smiles.” The organization hopes to do events like this several times a year.
Every year, the organization plans to have a Christmas party with games and food for the children as well as things on their wish lists. “This is actually our first event here so far. But for the kids’ birthdays there may be a parishioner who has to movie tickets that they cannot attend, so they would typically donate it and if that suits a wish list item, we will issue that as a birthday gift.”
The state only gives a recreation fee, which pays for the basic needs of a child in the system, so some of the kids don’t have much extra for holidays, birthdays, or sports.
By spreading the word, the turnout was pretty amazing, according the pair. “The community has helped so much and we cannot thank them enough.”
To prepare, each home was visited, wish lists for each child were collected, and a plan set into motion. Schexnider then went to each business and asked if they wanted to sponsor one child, or one family, and the response was incredible. Lindsay says “The businesses were thanking us for doing this for their community as we were thanking them. Every business helped us out.”
“It means the world to me because I am a social worker, I see what is missing in their lives, and we have all needed a little extra support from somewhere, and we are here to make that happen and to give our neighbors a little joy.” Lindsay Schexnider
“I think that for a long time, bigger cities have parish offices for things like this with support and recruitment efforts, and that’s something that this area doesn’t have and we want to change that. Every community needs it. In my 28 years with DCFS it has always been a struggle to get gifts for these children and thought I wasn’t doing enough. And now, we are here. We are a smaller parish with a lot of love.” Stacey Mire

ERATH — A Mass of Christian Burial for Carmen Broussard Vincent, 90, will be held on Saturday December 15, 2018 at 1:00PM at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Fr. Eugene Tremie officiating. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum.
Visitation will be held at David Funeral Home of Erath on Friday December 14, 2018 from 2:00pm until 8:00pm, with a recitation of the rosary at 6:00pm. Visitation will continue on Saturday December 15, 2018 from 9:00AM until time of service.
A native and resident of Erath, Mrs. Vincent died at 9:30am Thursday December 13, 2018, at Eastridge Nursing Home. She loved to cook and “she could cook”, pralines, chocolate covered popcorn, pecan rolls and rice and gravy. Mrs. Vincent also loved spending time with family and friends.
She is survived by her son Paul Vincent; a daughter Ruth and her husband Thad A. Broussard; grandchildren Jacob Vincent, Adena Smith, Wyatt Vincent, Emily Stang, Celeste Dleahoussaye, Natalie Broussard, Joshua Broussard, John Michael Broussard; great-grandchildren Staley Vincent, Logan Vincent, Jolie Vincent, Madison Bernard, Mathew Stang, Carmen Stafford, Kaydenc Stafford, and Alexander Stang; one brother Warren James Broussard; many much beloved nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 64 years, Curliss P. Vincent; her parents Rosa Guidry and John Isidore Broussard; two brothers John Bulace Broussard and Henry Foche Broussard; two sisters Marie Lurline Lege and Jeanne Broussard.
Serving as pallbearers will be Chris Menard, Jacob Vincent, Logan Vincent, Joshua Broussard, Craig Broussard, Janson Crase.
You may sign the guest register book and express dondolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath, at 209 E. Putnam, (337-937-0405) is in charge of the arrangements.

1925 - 2018

Edith Marie Hebert Granger, age 93, passed away surrounded by family in the comfort of her home in Erath on Thursday December 13th..
Edith was born on August 5, 1925, in Perry, Louisiana, one of seven children. After a brief courtship at 18 years old, she married Willis Granger at St. John’s Catholic Church in Henry, Louisiana. Willis went off to the war and served in the Navy while Edith and her infant son Harris lived in Prairie Gregg.
After Willis returned from the war, the couple had 11 children over the years, some of which was lived on farms as sharecroppers for landowners in the Prairie Gregg area. Life was not easy for most people in the area, but Edith persevered. When her husband took a job with Jefferson Island Salt Company, the family moved to Erath which would be become their home. Edith was a daily and common sight, as a little old lady walking the streets of Erath early in the morning, assuring herself good health as the best chance of living longer to enjoy her family.
Together for 75 years, Edith and Willis established a legacy of hard work, strong commitment, and unwavering love for their 11 children, 27 grandchildren, and 38 great-grandchildren.
As Edith’s children moved to all areas of the country and abroad, the opportunities to travel was something she truly enjoyed. Paris, London, Australia, South America, were some of the trips she enjoyed with her husband and children. Her love for music and Van Morrison brought her to Las Vegas recently as a gift from her children. She didn’t miss a beat.
Edith enjoyed working in her beautiful flower garden, bird-watching, cooking good Cajun food, music, and walking. Her greatest love was being with her family.
She will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends.
Edith was predeceased by her parents, Clemay and Adonia Hebert, her oldest child, Harris Granger, and her grandchild, Jeremy. She is survived by her husband, Willis Granger, and her children: Weldon Granger; Leona Garmendia; Janice Granger and Charley Byford; Neil Granger and wife, Cindy; Tommy Granger and wife, Arlene; Lottie De La Garza and husband, Michael; Joey Granger and wife, Linda; Patrick Granger and wife, Vanessa; Billy Granger and wife, Natalie; and Tammy Connor and husband, Jason. Edith is also survived by her 27 grandchildren and 38 great-grandchildren, whom she adored.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Concepts of Care Home Health and Lourdes Hospice, especially Lori Duke, Sue Picard, Angie Broussard, Deborah Rodosta, and Ken David. The family is also thankful for the compassionate care that was provided by Monica Harrington, Melinda Theriot, Tammy Comeaux, and Cindy Guidry. Our special thanks to our sister Tammy Conner who made their care so personal and loving.
Friends and family are cordially invited to a visitation from 2pm to 9pm on Friday, and 8:30 to 10am on Saturday morning at David’s Funeral Home, 2600 Charity, Abbeville, Louisiana, 70510. The Recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence at 7 p.m. on Friday evening.
A funeral mass will be officiated by Father Andre Metrejean at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 700 South Broadway, Erath, Louisiana, 70533, on Saturday the 15th @ 11 a.m.
Pallbearers are grandsons Ashley Granger, John Granger, Enrique Garmendia, Chuck Keller, Benjamin Granger, Ryan Granger, Jonathan Granger, Brant Granger, and Gabriel Connor.

According to Vermilion Parish Sheriff Mike Couvillon a person wanted by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office in regards to a vehicle pursuit which ended in Vermilion Parish yesterday has been arrested.
Sheriff Couvillon said that Michael OBryan Jr. was arrested without incident at an apartment complex in Abbeville at approximately 11:15 a.m. this morning by members of the Vermilion Parish Narcotics Task Force and Detectives.
OBryan will be later transported and booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center on charges stemming from yesterday’s incident.