Gene Lavergne

Opelousas- A Memorial Mass will be held for Gene Adam Lavergne at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2020, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Opelousas, LA.  Rev. Fr. Greg Simien will celebrate the Mass.

Gene Lavergne, 68, beloved Husband, Father, and Grandfather, was called to his eternal resting place with Our Lord on April 3, 2020, at Lafayette General Medical Center at the age of 68. He entered this world on August 20, 1951, in Eunice, Louisiana, born to Magnus and Merzie Lee Cortez Lavergne. He was employed for many years by Buster and Sandra Mistric at Majestic Oilfield Services in Opelousas. They considered Gene to be like a son and were like family to him and his family for many years.

Gene deeply loved his Catholic faith. His faith in Jesus carried him through his many accidents and illnesses. Gene loved attending Mass, especially at Our Lady of Mercy, the church where he and his wife Debbie were married. He always carried his rosary and prayed it daily. If he had to travel long distances, or just to run into town, he would pull out his rosary and pray it as he drove his truck. And as a good father and grandfather, he tried to pass his faith on to his children and grandchildren. He was selfless, hard working, loving and honorable. Gene was a simple man who never wanted anyone to make a fuss over him, whether it was for a birthday, or a holiday. He loved working for the sense of accomplishment that he felt after he had worked on a project and saw it completed well. He loved his family deeply and will be sadly missed.

​Gene's interests mostly revolved around his family. Gene loved to be outside and working hard. He loved the challenge of figuring out a workaround and the pride he felt when it worked. He did not like to ask anyone for help, he would rather try to do it himself. He was the original "do-it-yourself" man. He loved to walk in the woods and to shoot guns with his grandson, David. He loved pulling his grandchildren, Tanner and Abigail, in a wagon behind his lawnmower and letting them stop to pick up rocks or acorns. He loved being able to help his family in any way he could. As Brittany remembers, when she called her dad and told him it looked like the new refrigerator she and Mark had bought wasn’t going to fit in the cabinet space, he said, “I’ll grab my jigsaw and be right there.” And if there was a project Christina and Brad needed help with, he was always willing to offer advice and muscle when needed. He loved helping out his sisters, Gwen and Louise, when he could too. And he might not have loved doing all the “honey do’s” that his wife, Debbie, came up with, but he lovingly tried to please her anyway he could."

He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Debra Anslem Lavergne of Opelousas; and 2 daughters and 2 sons-in-law: Brittany Schroeder (and husband, Mark) of Sunset; and Christina Coleman (and husband, Brad) of Youngsville; as well as 3 grandchildren, David Lavergne-Schroeder, Abigail Schroeder and Tanner Coleman. He is also survived by two sisters: Gwendolyn Masters and Louise Brignac (and husband, Lloyd) all of Baton Rouge; 3 nieces: Monica Joubert (and husband Jacques, and their children Katlyn and Zachary), Veronica Hebert who is also his Godchild, and Angella Myers (and husband, Brandon); and 1 aunt, Bernadine Cortez Darbonne.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

The family has requested a public gathering of family and friends to be held from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 22, 2020, in the Skip Montet Memorial Chapel of the Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas.  A Rosary service will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 (337-942-2638) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.