L’Observateur / June 26, 1999

BECNEL VACHERIE – Francois J. Becnel, 77, a native of Edgard and a resident of Vacherie, died June 22. He was the husband of Laura deBautte Becnel andfather of Laura Benoit, Barbara Babin, Melanie Boudreaux and Kenneth, Francis “Butsy” and Kevin Becnel.

He was also the son of the late Ernest and Anna Laurent Becnel and brother of Gerard and Ernest Becnel Jr.

He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services were held June 25 at St. Philip Catholic Church, Vacherie, withinterment at the church cemetery.

COLEMAN MT. AIRY – Henry “Sam” Coleman Jr., 63, a native of Mt. Airy and a residentof New Orleans for 40 years, died June 19. He was the son of the lateHenry Sr. and Eliza Coleman and brother of Carrie Donsereaux, MaryWilliams, Joyce Brown, Janet Di xon, Rubie Dodson and Willie Coleman.

Services are today at 11 a.m. at St. Mark Baptist Church, Mt. Airy, withinterment at Zion Travelers Cemetery, Lions. Visitation starts at 10 a.m.DUMAS MARRERO – Alfred Dumas, 73, a native of Vacherie and a resident of Marrero, died June 19. He was the husband of Cecelia Harris Dumas and thefather of Tyron Joseph Davis.

He was the son of the late Wilfred and Augustine Baptiste Dumas and the brother of Cora Walker, Clarence Dumas, the late Enola Narcisse, Angelina Singleton and Wilfred, Dalton and James Dumas.

Services were held June 24 at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church,Marrero with interment at Restlawn Cemetery.

LEWIS-DURANT KENNER – Vera Lewis-Durant, 70, a native of New Sarpy and a resident of New Orleans for many years, died June 21. She was the mother of BarbaraCurant-Ridgely, Wanra Durant-Butler, Jeano Durant-Johnson and Donna, Linda, Jackie, Jerry, Rickie, Calvin, Ronald and Joseph Durant.

She is also survived by 37 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Services were held June 24 at Kenner Congregation Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, with interment at Providence Memorial Park.

MELANCON HAHNVILLE – Robert Gayle Melancon, 58, a native of Abbeville and a resident of Hahnville, died June 23. He was the husband of Nathalie TalbotMelancon and father of Denise Mayeux, Celeste Chiasson and Annette Melancon.

He was also the son of the late Achille Joseph Jr. and Mary Clyde SmithMelancon and brother of Mary Claire Fisher, Joan Marie, Clyde and John Wayne Melancon and the late Stirling and Phillip Melancon.

He is also survived by four grandchildren.

He was a Monsanto retiree with 30 years, a member of the Hahnville Lions Club and a U.S. Army Korean War veteran.Services were held June 25 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Hahnville, with interment at St. Charles Cemetery, Luling.PARKER CHALMETTE – Cyrese Webster Parker, 40, a native of South Carolina, former resident of Destrahan and a resident of Chalmette for the past 26 years, died June 22. She was the mother of Melissa Kelly Hoffman.She was the daughter of Joyce Mammelli Zaffuto and the late Lonnie D.

Webster Jr., the step-daughter of Roy J. Zaffuto Sr., the sister of Marie L.Webster, Ronald M. Webster and Frank D. Webster.She was pre-deceased by one grandchild.

Services were held June 25 at Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette, with interment at St.Bernard Memorial Gardens.ROME METAIRIE – Beulah T. Rome, 75, a native of Convent and a resident of NewOrleans for many years, died June 20. She was the daughter of the lateAlfred F. and Eveline Waguespack Rome and the sister of Geraldine,Mildred, Alfred, Leo Rome Sr., the late Evelyn Schweitzer and Leonie,Eunice, Hilda, Gerald, Melvin, Robely and Nemours Rome.

Services were held June 23 at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel with internment at Lake Lawn Park.

ROSENGERGER METAIRIE – John Robert Rosenberger, 60, a native of Garyville and a resident of Metairie, died June 23. He was the husband of Alice MartinRosenberger and father of Sheri Murray, Stacey Cox and Susan Rosenberger.

He was also the son of the late Lyman Sr. and Edna Riser Rosenberger andbrother of Mary Harris, Edna Barron and Lyman Rosenberger Jr.

He is also survived by four grandchildren.

Services were held June 25 at St. Clement of Rome Catholic Church,Metairie, with interment at Lake Lawn Park.

YOUNG NEW ORLEANS – Carrie Young, 93, a native of St. Charles Parish and aresident of New Orleans for many years, died June 20. She was the wife ofthe late Jack Young and mother of the late Wilda Armstead.

She was also the sister of the late Beatrice Vincent, Adele Plummer and Mark Ruffin Jr.

She is also survived by one grandchild, seven great-grandchildren and nine great-great-grandchildren and predeceased by one grandchild.

Services are today at 10 a.m. at Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, New Orleans, with interment at Providence Memorial Park. Visitation starts at 9 a.m.

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