Jimmie And Bernice Landry

Abbeville—On the morning of Wednesday, September 18, 2024, Jimmie J. Landry, 90, passed away from this earthly life, and two days later on September 20, 2024, his beloved wife of seventy years Bernice J. Broussard, age 88, followed. They died within days of each other, as if part of God’s divine plan for them to never be apart. Both Jimmie and Bernice passed away at home in Abbeville, Louisiana surrounded by love and family.

A funeral mass will be held for Jimmie and Bernice on Tuesday, September 24 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Abbeville, with interment to follow at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery on Old Kaplan Highway. Visitation will take place at Vincent Funeral Home in Abbeville on Monday, September 23, 2024, from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m.; visitation will resume Tuesday morning at 8:00 a.m. until the time of service.

Jimmie and Bernice both began their lives in Abbeville, Louisiana. Jimmie was born on June 18, 1934 to Bernard Landry, Sr. and Eva Hebert Haden and grew up in the city limits. Bernice J. Broussard was born at home on June 14, 1936 to her parents Dolze and Clarice Ledet Broussard and raised in the countryside. Eventually they would settle together as a family on the land where Bernice was born, in the area once known as Broussard Cove in Abbeville. This special place would become a haven for their cherished family.

Before meeting and marrying Bernice, Jimmie joined the Air Force following his graduation from high school and was stationed in Greenland. While serving in Greenland, he purchased a wedding ring that he didn’t yet know would adorn the hand of Bernice for the next 70 years.

After a very brief courtship, Jimmie and Bernice were married on Easter Sunday at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville and had an outdoor reception at the home of Bernice’s parents. They honeymooned in Abbeville then moved to Salina, Kansas where Jimmie’s military service took them. While in Kansas, their oldest daughter Carolyn was born.

Jimmie, a staff sergeant, was honorably discharged after his years of military service and he and Bernice moved to Abbeville where they continued to grow their family and build a warm and nurturing home. They much later renewed their vows during a visit to the Holy Land. Their dedication to each other and their marriage was perpetual and true.

Children Alisa, Bill, and David followed Carolyn, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even great-great-grandchildren eventually joined the family. As the family grew, so did the love that Bernice and Jimmie shared. Their home included a thriving garden and animals tended to lovingly, and a kitchen where warm and home-cooked meals awaited family and visitors. Jimmie was a gifted farmer, and tended cattle on the land in Broussard Cove, continuing a tradition begun by Bernice’s family long before. Bernice’s kitchen was the heartbeat of the home, felt by all who entered.

Bernice is remembered by friends, both as a child and later a woman, as being a genuinely compassionate person who thought very deeply about others, whether they were strangers or friends. Some say she was an angel. She bestowed care upon others in a way that stood out and encouraged love in the hearts of those around her.

Jimmie will always be remembered for his integrity and human touch evident in his work at the Bank of Abbeville, which extended beyond office hours and paperwork. He began as a teller there and, after over 50 years of service, finished his career as the bank’s vice president. His work at the bank was fundamental to the growth of his community and the families within it. People recall that he had a knack for reading people, and often put trust and faith in people others might not but who deserved it all the same. He was a third-degree knight with Knights of Columbus, a lifelong member of the American Legion, long-time treasurer for St. Theresa Catholic Church. For a time, he worked on weekends at Evangeline Downs to bring extra money to his family at home.

Both Jimmie and Bernice were devoted to their Catholic faith and their church community at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Abbeville. Bernice was a Eucharistic minister to a local nursing home, the local hospital, and homebound parishioners, and led the rosary at a local nursing home. She kept faithful to her weekly Holy Hour at St. Theresa. She was also a longtime member of the Ladies Altar Society at the church.

Jimmie is preceded in death by his father Bernard Landry, Sr.; his mother, Eva Hebert Haden; his sisters, Audrey Meaux (Pete), and Thelma Trahan (Paul); his brother Bernard Landry; half-brother, Neil Landry; niece, Susan Trahan; and nephew, Sandy Meaux.

Jimmie leaves behind half-brothers, Kenny Landry (Suzie), Ivy Landry (Liz), Jacque, and Benny Landry (Angela); and half-sisters, Kay DeHart (late Rick), and Bernadette Viator (late Bobby).

Bernice was preceded in death by her parents Dolze Carsaday and Clarice Edia Ledet Broussard; and brothers Nelson (Ledie), Leon (Eloise), Lovelace (Dorothy), Wilson “Bill” (Myrtis), Ervin (Gertrude), CD (Flo), Chester (Melise), Daniel (Lona), Calvin and infant brother George. Also many nieces and nephews.

Together they were preceded in death by their son, David Keith Landry; and their great-great-granddaughter, Elaine Claire Langlinais.

Together they leave behind their daughter Carolyn Landry (Jimmie Leger Sr.), their daughter Alisa Manceaux (Dwayne), their son Wilson “Bill” Landry (Tabitha); their ten grandchildren Rochelle Oliver (Yan Djorghi), Shannon Vidalier (Corey), Tara Meaux (Brady), Bridget Derouen (Dewey), Lindsy Manceaux (KC Boggs), Jenna Allen (James), Elizabeth Reinke (Brandon), Blake Borel (Nicole), Holly Bostick (Kyle), Stephen Landry, Nina Landry (Seth Patin), and Matthew Landry; their twenty-two great-grandchildren Payton, Morgan, and Dylan Clostio, Sarah Burkholder (Kyle), Emily and Brennan Vidalier, Hannah Langlinais (C.J.), Addisyn, Mallory, and Morgan Meaux, Olivia Mouisset (Josh), Nathan Derouen, Lyla, Eva, and Max Allen, Zephryn and Presley Reinke, Atia and Mila Borel, and Cooper, Charlie, and Carter Bostick; great-great-grandchildren Easton and Brance Langlinais; sisters-in-law Mary Ann Landry and Velma Broussard; and many nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers for the couple’s funeral are Dewey Derouen, KC Boggs, Nathan Derouen, Corey Vidalier, Josh Mouisset, Brady Meaux, Kyle Bostick, Stephen Landry, Matthew Landry, Dylan Clostio, C.J. Langlinais, and Seth Patin. Acting as honorary pallbearers will be Jimmie and Bernice’s grandchildren. Great-grandsons Cooper, Carter, and Charlie Bostick will act as gift-bearers.

Bernice and Jimmie’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who showed support to the family through visits and sharing meals, and a special thanks to Donna Vice for her years of dedicated care to the couple. The family would also like to acknowledge the doctors and nurses at Lourdes ICU who gave Jimmie excellent care in recent days.