Gertrude Natalie Gauthier Bienvenu

Lafayette – Funeral services were held on Friday, July 3, 2015, at a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for Mrs. Zerben H. Bienvenu, born Gertrude Natalie Gauthier, who passed away at her home in Lafayette surrounded by family members on June 30, 2015. She was 91 years old.
Interment was in St. John Cemetery.
Reverend Chester Arceneaux, Rector of Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, was the Celebrant of the Funeral Mass and conducted the funeral services. Lectors were Gregory Stephen Bienvenu, M.D., Stephen Francis Bienvenu and James Carol Bienvenu, M.D. Giftbearers were her granddaughters and pall bearers were her grandsons. Karen Broussard, vocalist, accompanied by Tom Niel, organist, will sing for the services, “Here I Am Lord,” “Psalm 23,” “Ave Maria,” “Panis Angelicus,” and “On Eagles’ Wings.”
Born May 15, 1924, in St. Martinville, LA, she was one of nine children born to Anatole and Agnes Gauthier. She and her future husband, Zerben Bienvenu, were schoolmates in their youth, though a grade apart. While working as a secretary at Fort Polk during WWII, she was stricken with polio at the age of 19. She was quarantined in New Orleans to convalesce and her future husband learned of her plight. He was a young army officer and medical student in New Orleans at the time, and he had access to visit her, whereas her family did not. The two fell in love, married in 1948, and raised seven children together. Her husband and her children were the focus of her life. Though the polio left her paralyzed in one arm, she handled things with such dexterity, most were unaware of her infirmity.
She was a member of St. John the Evangelist parish for over 68 years and the Lafayette Parish Medical Auxiliary, Catholic Daughters, Ladies Altar Society, Acadiana Right to Life and Lavenier.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years Zerben H. Bienvenu, MD; and a grandson, Jerome E. Hebert; parents, Anatole Charles Gauthier and Agnes Rousseau Gauthier; and siblings, Marie Louise G. White, Inez O. Gauthier, Annette G Durand, AC “Nat” Gauthier Jr., Denis M. Gauthier and Therese G Delcambre. She is survived by siblings, Isabelle G. Pointer and Lawrence Gauthier.
She is also survived by her children, Philip M. Bienvenu and his partner Julian Harrison, Rene C Bienvenu and wife Christine, Natalie G. Bienvenu, Gregory S. Bienvenu, MD, and wife Debbie, Stephen F. Bienvenu and wife Penny, James C. Bienvenu, MD, and wife Melissa, and Robert M. Bienvenu and wife Chrissy; 21 grandchildren, Virginia Bienvenu, Jennifer L. LeBlanc, Mathew J. Soucy, Emily S. Benevage, Zerben P., Edward S., Charles A. and Anthony G. Hebert, Sarah Crawford, Suzanne B. Anderson, Catherine B. Stone, Mathew G. Bienvenu, John M. Bienvenu, Scott D. Bienvenu, Andrew T. Bienvenu, James M Bienvenu, MD, Melissa B. Andrade, John W. Bienvenu, Edward M. Bienvenu, Marion Bienvenu and Thomas M. Bienvenu; 28 great-grandchildren, Witland J. LeBlanc III, Eric J. LeBlanc, Macie Soucy, Kalli Soleil Hebert, Zerben B. Hebert, Sodhi Natalia Hebert, Jackson D. Hebert, Spencer R. Hebert, Zoe A. Hebert, Rhett C. Hebert, Rock A. Hebert, Cale A. Hebert, Gunner A. Hebert, Ava M. Hebert, Reagan T. Crawford, Andrew T. Crawford, Owen T. Anderson, Natalie Anderson, James W. Anderson, Harrison Stone, Bennett Stone, Cecilia R. Bienvenu, Elijah M. Bienvenu, Isaiah P. Bienvenu, Larson G. Bienvenu, Julien A. Andrade, Camilla M. Andrade and Maxwell M Bienvenu.
The family would like to give thanks to Brenda, Delores and Christine.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Carmelite Monastery, 1250 Carmel Avenue, Lafayette, LA 70501, or Acadiana Right to Life for the Zerben Bienvenu - William Smith Endowment Fund for Acadiana Pro-Life Education P.O. Box 5247 Lafayette, La. 70502.
A Rosary was prayed by Reverend Chester Arceneaux on Thursday, July 2, 2015, at 7 p.m. in Martin & Castille’s DOWNTOWN Location.
Visitation was observed on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and continued on Friday from 8 a.m. until time of services.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com.
Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, 337-234-2311