RSS Feed

Charles Dickens stated, that “No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”
As with schools around the district, Erath High, Erath Middle, Dozier Elementary, LeBlanc Elementary and Seventh Ward leaders, faculty members and students worked to lighten the burden and help Texas “Hurricane Harvey” victims.
Erath High partnered with Earl, Vance, and Jacob Landry and Industrial & Oilfield Services and Enviro Resources to help flood victims in the Houston area. Family clothes donations (shirts, pants/shorts) were collected at EHS from September 5th until 7th in the EHS Gym. Industrial & Oilfield Services and Enviro graciously agreed to transport donations on the school’s behalf. On Monday, September 11th, the Erath High Student Council sent off a large shipment of donations collected for Texas Hurricane Harvey victims. EHS Principal Marc Turner sent a huge shout-out via Facebook to the Landry men and Industrial & Oilfield Services and Enviro for transporting the donations to Texas. Turner shared “I am so proud of our community for paying it forward!” In addition to that, the school will host jean days and out of uniform dress designated days, for monetary donations.
Erath Middle and Seventh Ward opted for a toiletry drive for specific schools in another part of Texas. With the help of Donna Sanchez, Erath Middle and Seventh Ward Elementary Principals Wendy Stoute and Natalie Hebert answered a plea on Facebook to help the Port Arthur, Beaumont, and Nederland areas in Texas. The connection between the schools was Sanchez’s cousin Susan Granger Trevino who works as a Guidance Counselor in Port Arthur. Trevino also has an Erath connection. Her father J.D. Granger was the oldest child of Mr. and Mrs. Dud Granger from Erath. A specific list of needed items was sent to the Vermilion Parish two leaders. Products like soap, toothbrushes, and toiletry items, as well as school supplies, were named as much-needed items.
The first drive for the two schools mentioned, began the day after Labor Day and on Saturday, September 9th; a trip was made to Texas. The schools helped included Christian Fellowship in Beaumont, St. Catherine Elementary in Port Arthur and St. Charles: Nederland. The two schools are working on a 2nd drive now to be delivered again Saturday, September 16th. Erath Middle also hosted a $5 "out of uniform" day as well as offering community members to drop off donations at the school. On the 9th, Sanchez brought all collected items for week 1 to St. Catherine’s and they distributed items at the other locations.
After Hurricane Harvey made landfall in Texas, Dozier Elementary made the decision to raise money to help the Aransas County Independent School District. Aransas County, Texas was devastated by Hurricane Harvey. The five schools in this district had catastrophic damages. The schools are Rockport-Fulton High School, Rockport-Fulton Middle School, Live Oak Elementary, Fulton Elementary and Little Bay Primary.
In the letter sent home with Dozier Elementary students, leaders mentioned that like the schools in Aransas County, Dozier also endured devastation with the flooding with Hurricane Rita and Ike. To assist the schools in this district, students were offered to have a $5 out of uniform dress day on Thursday, September 7th. The school also offered community members to stop by and drop off monetary donations as well. The school raised almost $2,900 that will go to Aransas County ISD for their five campuses in Rockport, Texas. Some classrooms also adopted a classroom in Texas to assist with supplies in a different way. The Aransas County school district in Rockport, Texas was heavily damaged and a “Go Fund Me” account was set up @ https://www.gofundme.com/rockport-fulton-schools-hurricane if others want to donate, too.
LeBlanc Elementary hosted a $2 jean day on September 12th to benefit Pastor August's congregation who was impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The school will also host a coin drive during the week of September 18th to benefit a school in Texas.
No matter where the donations were sent or where they'd end up, the one constant during the school wide programs was Saint Francis Assisi' message, "For it is in giving that we receive" that echoed through the walls. The goal of all projects was simple, “to be useful and to lighten the burdens” of Louisiana neighbors in Texas.

ERATH — A Mass of Christian Burial for Brigadier General Curney J. Dronet, Sr., 94, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 16, 2017 with full Military Honors in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Father Andre Metrejean officiating.  Interment will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum. 
Visitation will be Friday, September 15, 2017 in David Funeral Home of Erath from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with recitation of the rosary at 6:00 p.m. Visitation will resume on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at 8:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 10:30 a.m. 
General Dronet passed away Wednesday, September 13, 2017 in his residence surrounded by family members and Father Metrejean. 
Dronet was born in Prairie Gregg, Louisiana on July 5, 1923.  He was the only child of Joe and Eula Nunez Dronet.  Dronet graduated from Erath High School in 1940 as the Valedictorian.  Dronet then enrolled at Southwestern Louisiana Institute and transferred to Spencer Business College, graduating in 1941 with a business degree.
In May of 1943, Dronet enlisted in the Army Air Corps as an aviation cadet. He attended Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, and then received pre-flight training at Maxwell Field, Alabama followed by bombardiering and navigation training at Midland Army Air Base in Midland, Texas. 
Dronet returned to Erath in 1945 and initially began working with his father, Joe “Pye” Dronet, as a contractor. He was an astute businessman and would later open Dronet’s Department Store as well as Dronet’s Furniture and Appliance Store which included flooring sales. He also established a real estate firm and developed several of the subdivisions in and around Erath.   
In 1946, Dronet was one of the original organizers who planned the event which is what we know today as the Erath 4th of July Celebration.  He joined the newly-chartered American Legion Post 3872 and was selected as Vice Commander in 1946.  Dronet was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church community and served as trustee for the church for 11 years. He served as a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council 3872 for two terms as well as being a 4th a Degree Knight with the Reverend AJ Braquet Assembly. 
Dronet served on the Vermilion Parish School Board from 1955-1964.  He also served as secretary-treasurer for the Town of Erath from 1949 to 1953. He was a charter member and served as secretary-treasurer of the Erath Volunteer Fire Department.   
In 1949, he enlisted as a 2nd Lieutenant in H Company, 2nd Battalion 156th Infantry and in 1951 was selected to command the Company. In 1957, he attended in residence the associate career course at the Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon his return, he was promoted to the rank of major. In 1963, with another reorganization of the National Guard, he was selected to command the 2nd Battalion, headquartered in Abbeville, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, serving for six years.  He attended the Command and General Staff College in residence at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1967.  In 1969, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and was assigned as Director of Intelligence. He assumed command as the Brigadier General of the 256th Infantry Brigade in October of 1973 and retired in June of 1978.
Following his retirement, Dronet enrolled in a “Life Writing” class at ULL. He authored three books including “A Century of Acadian Culture”, “A Perspective View: The Louisiana Brigade”, and “Memoirs, Avocation, and Family Biography.”    
Dronet’s military honors include the Legend of Merit, the Louisiana Distinguished Service Medal, and the US Army Meritorious Service Medal.  He was also inducted into the Order of Saint Maurice.  Dronet was inducted into the Order of Living Legends by the Acadian Museum of Erath and was named the 2016 Grand Marshal for the Erath 4th of July Association.    
He is survived by his childhood sweetheart and wife of 76 years, Irene LeBlanc Dronet of Erath and his seven children; Phyllis (Lloyd “Tiger”) LeBlanc, Sonny (Charlene) Dronet, David (Jenny) Dronet, Bryan (Loretta) Dronet, Jody (Dana) Dronet, Leslie (Mark) Mencacci, and Claire Bernard; 20 grandchildren, 41 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren and spouses. His 20 grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers. 
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Eula Nunez Dronet.
Family was very important to Dronet.  As the devoted patriarch of the Dronet family numbering 104,Dronet would lead each family gathering with this blessing which he wrote: “Thank you Lord for our family, A circle of strength and love.  With every birth and every union the circle grows.  Every joy brings more love; Every joy brings more happiness; Every crisis faced together makes the circle stronger.  With every breath of life we strive and pray for peace and harmony”.
The family would like to thank Dronet’s caregivers, Christine Levine, Danielle Broussard (granddaughter), Tonya Broussard, and Karen Latiolais for the exceptional and compassionate care provided.  A special thanks is also extended to Amedysis Hospice, especially his primary nurse Jennie Laverne.  
You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home of Erath, 209 East Putnam Street, (337) 937-0405 will be handling the arrangements.

October 25, 1923 ~ September 13, 2017

ABBEVILLE — Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville honoring the life of Velma Agnes Broussard Landry, 93, who died Wednesday, September 13, 2017 at Maison du Monde Living Center. She will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery.
Velma is survived by three sons, Steve C. Landry and wife Mary Garber Landry, Paul Jerald Landry, and James Landry and wife Rebecca Williams Landry; four grandchildren, Steve C. Landry, Jr., John Paul Landry, Christine Landry Griffin and husband Anthony Griffin, and Sharon Landry Niecase and husband Ben Niecase; six great grandchildren; and two nephews, Russell J. Primeaux and John W. Primeaux.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John Roy Landry; parents, Ludwid Charles Broussard and Edith Richard Broussard; sister, Eunice Broussard Primeaux; and nieces, Cheryl Ann Primeaux Cormier and Bonnie Gayle Primeaux Konidus.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Saturday, September 16, 2017 from 10:00 AM until time of services. A rosary being prayed at 12:00 PM.
Sincere and heartfelt thanks to Maison du Monde Living Center and Lamm Family Care Hospice for all the care, love, empathy and professionalism you showed when caring for our mother. 
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abbeville, (337) 893-4661.

ERATH – A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Edia Gerard Romero, age 95, at 3:30 pm on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with Msgr. Robert Romero officiating. Interment will follow at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery in Abbeville.
Visitation will take place on Thursday from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm at Evangeline Funeral Home in Delcambre with a Rosary at 11:00 am.
A native of Youngsville and resident of Erath, Mrs. Romero passed away on Monday, September 11, 2017 at Camelot of Broussard.
Mrs. Romero enjoyed sewing, jigsaw puzzles and spending time working in her flower beds. She will be missed dearly by her family and will live on forever in their hearts.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Gail Romero of Broussard; nine grandchildren, Sharon Morvant and husband Leon; Kevin Delino and wife Liz; Maury Delino and wife Wendy; Melvin Labit; Stacey Delino and significant other Pam Liversat; Brady Labit; Todd Labit and wife Toni; Thomas Bradshaw Delino and wife Tanya and Bonnie Romero Richard; seventeen great grandchildren and several great great grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her first husband, Eugene Romero, Sr.; second husband, Dudley Romero; one son, Eugene Romero, Jr.; one grandson, Eugne “Buzz” Romero, III; one daughter; Charmaine Romero; her parents, Serville and Olivia Hebert Gerard; two brothers, Rene Gerard and Antoine Gerard and four sisters, Ann R. Romero, Noon Frederick, Clelie Trahan and Gladys Delahoussaye.
Pallbearers will be Melvin Labit, Brady Labit, Todd Labit,Maury Delino, Irby Delahoussaye, Thomas Delino and Jacob Labit.
To view the on-line obituary, video tribute, and sign the guest register, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.
Evangeline Funeral Homes, Inc. of Delcambre is in charge of arrangements.