S U M M E R N E W S L E T T E R | 2 0 1 8
Louisiana Funeral Directors Association
IN THIS ISSUE: • A Message from the President • Executive Director Update • District Updates • LFDA & MFDA Annual Joint Conference Highlights • Industry News: Tech Trends • In Memoriam: Jackson Swisher, Daniel Lemoine, Lowell Sibille, Jr.
Summer 2018
Departments
LFDA News
5 NFDA Leadership Conference Highlights
7 LFDA & MFDA Annual Joint Convention Highlights
8 South District Update
In Memoriam
12 Jackson Lee Swisher
13 Daniel Lemoine
14 Lowell Sibile Jr.
Featured Articles
3 A Message From the President
4 LFDA Leadership
6 Tune In– Executive Director Update
10 LFDA Committee Assignments
15 Classifieds
15 Advertisers Index
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Table of Contents Summer 2018 Edition
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A Message From the President
Gene Pellerin LFDA President
Greetings, Thanks to all who attended the LFDA/MFDA Annual Joint Convention at the Golden Nugget Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi! We missed those of you who were not able to join us. All those who attended had a great time visiting with old friends and making new ones. We were able to have a little fun and learn new ideas and skills pertinent our profession. Be sure to visit www.lfdaweb.org if you would like to see pictures from this year’s convention. I would like to give a big thank you to our wonderful sponsors and exhibitors for supporting our convention. We can never thank our vendors enough for all that they do, and we would not be able to put on such a great convention without their support and help. Congratulations to Bill Wimberley, the recipient of the CA Charlet award. Bill has been dedicated and given countless hours of his time to LFDA. This award was well deserved. We were also able to raise over $8,000 for the Gerald M. Robbins Scholarship fund at the Convention, thanks in large part to the Robbins family. This is incredible and will allow LFDA to continue to award scholarships to students in the funeral profession across the state. Thanks to everyone who donated and participated in the silent auction. Go ahead and mark your calendars for June 2-4, 2019! We have already started planning our 2019 convention in New Orleans, Louisiana at the Winsor Court Hotel, so start making plans now to attend! As I mentioned in the previous newsletter, membership is what makes up LFDA. Without our members, we would not be able to exist. Your dedication and involvement is what makes us a great association! Best, Gene Pellerin
2018-2019 LFDA Board of Directors Executive Director & Staff
LFDA Leadership
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President Gene Pellerin
Pellerin Funeral Home [email protected]
(337) 319-5542
Vice President Gary Tranchina
Honaker Funeral Home [email protected]
(985) 641-1900
Treasurer W. Bryan Price
Southern Funeral Home [email protected]
(318) 628-6921
Secretary Anthony J. “Tiger” Istre
Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home [email protected]
(337) 789-3313
Sergeant-at-Arms Nicole Charlet Wilcher Charlet Funeral Home
[email protected] (225) 654-4480
South District Governor
Boyd Mothe, Jr. Mothe Funeral Homes [email protected]
(504) 366-4343
Southeast District Governor Nicole Charlet Wilcher Charlet Funeral Home
[email protected] (225) 654-4480
Southwest District Governor
Raymond Martin III Martin & Castille Funeral Home
[email protected] (337) 234-2311
North District Governor
Troy Dennard Young’s Funeral Home
[email protected] (318) 757-3639
Executive Director & Lobbyist David Tatman
Account Manager Jamie Freeman
LFDA P.O. Box 82531
Baton Rouge, LA 70884 Telephone: (225) 767-7640
Fax: (225) 767-7648 Email: [email protected]
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NFDA Leadership Conference
Gene Pellerin with NFDA CEO, Christine Pepper
The LFDA leadership presented a $10,000 check to the Funeral Service Foundation
Tune In
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David Tatman LFDA Executive
Director & Legislative Lobbyist
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2018 LFDA & MFDA Joint Convention at the Golden Nugget in Biloxi. The LFDA & MFDA leadership tried something a little different this year! There was no official golf tournament, and the After the Expo event became the Monday Night Wig Out at the Disco Party, where everyone had a great time. We are always trying new and innovative things to make your experiences at these conventions better and more worthwhile. As always, we welcome feedback! A survey can be found on the Joint Convention page of LFDA’s website, or you can always email us at [email protected]. Be sure to make plans for next year’s convention, which will return to the luxurious Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans on June 2-4, 2019. I’d like to extend congratulations to the newly elected Executive Committee! Your time and dedication is invaluable to both this association and the funeral profession. Planning is already under way for this year’s Executive Committee Retreat being held in August and the annual Fall Meeting. Please mark your calendars for November 29th at the Hotel Bentley in Alexandria. This year’s Fall Meeting will be held in conjunction with the North District event, and there will be lots of opportunity for networking and education. I have just returned from the beautiful Grove Park Inn in Asheville, North Carolina, where I had the opportunity to attend the NFDA Leadership Conference, along with LFDA President Gene Pellerin and Vice President Gary Tranchina. This conference is always valuable, and this year was no exception. We heard from Bob Harris, President of the NonProfit Center, who shared some insightful information about board development and strategic planning. I certainly feel that with the information we learned at this conference, we will be able to take our leadership skills to the next level!
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Top left: Gene Pellerin & MFDA President Sammy Reed with NFDA At-Large Representative Jack Mitchell at the Welcome Reception Top right: The LFDA & MFDA past presidents gathered for the Annual Past Presidents’ Breakfast Left: Everyone had a great time at the Wig Out at the Disco Party Bottom left: 2018 Certificate of Excellence recipients Bottom right: Brian Carroll awarded the 2018 Gerald M. Robbins Scholarship to Xiomara Morter
Annual Joint Convention Highlights
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LFDA District News
The Louisiana Funeral Directors Association honored the South District governor, Boyd Mothe, Jr., with the 2018 Outstanding District Award. The award is given out annually during the LFDA & MFDA Joint Convention to recognize the LFDA district that is active in their area, encourages participation throughout the state, and promotes a high degree of integrity in the funeral service. Boyd Mothe, Jr. received this award in 2016, 2014, and 2013.
South District
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2018-2019 Committee Assignments
Annual Convention Committee
LFDA Chairperson: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
MFDA Chairperson: Sammy Reed, Lee Memorial FH
Members: Gary Tranchina, Honaker Funeral Home
Brett Brewster, Cuthsall Funeral Home
C.A. Charlet Award Committee
Chairperson: Bill Wimberly, Ardoin Funeral Home
Members: Joel Swisher, Hixson Brothers FH
Gerald Melancon, Melancon FH
Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Boyd Mothe, Jr., Mothe Funeral Homes
Communications Committee
Chairperson: R.T. Delhomme, Martin & Castille FH
Members: Gary Tranchina, Honnaker Funeral Home
Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Constitution & Bylaw Committee
Chairperson: W. Bryan Price, Southern Funeral Home
Co-Chairperson Roy Geesey, Geesey Ferguson FH
Members: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Education Committee
Chairperson: Gary Tranchina, Honnaker Funeral Home
Members: Andy Hankins, Johnson Funeral Home
Bryan Price, Southern Funeral Home
Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Membership Committee
Chairperson: Tiger Istre, Geesey-Ferguson FH
Members: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Nicole Charlet, Charlet Funeral Home
Boyd Mothe, Jr., Mothe Funeral Homes
Troy Dennard, Young's Funeral Home
Raymond Martin, Martin & Castille FH
Outstanding District Award Committee
Chairperson: Brian Carroll, Batesville
Members: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Policy Board
Representative: Joel Swisher, Hixson Brothers FH
Resolutions Committee
Chairperson: Nicole Charlet Wilcher, Charlet FH
Members: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Nicole Charlet Wilcher, Charlet FH
Boyd Mothe, Jr., Mothe Funeral Homes
Troy Dennard, Young's Funeral Home
Raymond Martin, Martin & Castille FH
Scholarship Committee
Chairperson: Justin Lee, Geesey-Ferguson FH
Member Brian Carroll, Batesville
Member RT Delhomme, Martin & Castille FH
Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Sponsorship Committee
Chairperson: Boyd Mothe, Jr., Mothe Funeral Homes
Members: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Nicole Charlet Wilcher, Charlet FH
Troy Dennard, Young's Funeral Home
Raymond Martin, Martin & Castille FH
State Board Liaison Committee
Chairperson: Edward Muhleisen, Millet-Guidry FH
Members: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Boyd Mothe, Jr., Mothe Funeral Homes
Coroner Liaison
Chairperson: Nicole Charlet Wilcher, Charlet FH
Members: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Finance Committee
Chairperson: W. Bryan Price, Southern Funeral
Members: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Roy Geesey, Geesey Ferguson FH
Mike Mulhearn, Mulhearn Funeral Home
Tiger Istre, Geesey Ferguson FH
Laws & Legislative Committee
Chairperson: Gene Pellerin, Pellerin Funeral Home
Members: Louis Muhleisen, LA Muhleisen & Son FH
Boyd Mothe Jr., Mothe Funeral Homes
Boyd Mothe Sr., Mothe Funeral Homes
Craig Gill, Gill First National
Andrew Hankins, Johnson Funeral Home
Butch Mulhearn, Mulhearn Funeral Home
Bubba Brasseaux, SCI
Joel Swisher, Hixson Brothers FH
Kelly Rush Savoy, Rush Funeral Home
Gerald Melancon, Melancon FH
Bill Wimberly, Ardoin Funeral Home
Scott Haynes, Baker Funeral Home
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Services for Mr. Jackson Lee “PaJack” Swisher were held on
Monday, July 2, 2018 at Dry Creek Baptist Church with Reverend
Charlie Bailey and John Gray officiating. Burial was in Hopewell
Cemetery, under the direction of Hixson Brothers, Alexandria.
Jackson Lee Swisher, 83 of DeRidder LA passed away at 9:15am
on Thursday, June 28th at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital.
He was born May 4, 1935 in Lost Creek, West Virginia where he
lived until enlisting in the United States Air Force July 16, 1954.
His first duty station was in Japan after that he was sent to Lake
Charles Air Base in Lake Charles, LA. This is where he met the
Love of his life, Sharon Rose Hester. They were married Decem-
ber 12, 1958. He was then stationed to Warner Robins Air Base
in GA then to England Air Force Base in Alexandria where he re-
tired in 1974.
Jackson and Sharon and their 3 children then settled in DeRidder where he worked at Hester’s
Radiator and Body Shop and as a bus driver for Beauregard Parish School Board for 20 plus
years. After retiring from Hester’s and the School system he spent the remainder of his life being
a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. PaJack was a devout Christian
and a member of Dry Creek Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon and in the Van minis-
try. He never missed a ball game or dance recital and loved cheering on the Trojan football
team.
He was preceded in death by his parents Alma Ford Swisher and Lewis Carl Swisher.
Those left to cherish his memory is his wife of 59 years Sharon of DeRidder, son Jerry Swisher
and wife Nanette of DeRidder, daughter Jaclyn Swisher Gray and husband Greg of Dry Creek,
son Joel Swisher and wife Edie of Alexandria. 11 grandchildren: Jeremy Swisher and wife Court-
ney, Justin Gray and wife Kaitlyn, Kimberlee Simmons and husband Justin, Jayson Gray, Joseph
Gray, Nathaniel Swisher, Ben Easley and Allen Swisher. 8 Great Grandchildren Jenna, Emma,
Jareth, Colton, Jaxson, Jaxstin and soon to be Jacee; brothers Bill Swisher and wife Anne, Neal
Swisher and wife Barbara; sisters Norma Zinn, JoAnn Murtha and husband Joe, Mary Bargeloh
and husband Jim and numerous nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were Jeremy Swisher, Justin
Gray, Jason Gray, Joseph Gray, Justin Simmons, Nathaniel Swisher, Brian Hester and Danny
Hester.
Memorials may be made to Dry Creek Baptist Church Building Fund, 7800 Hwy 394, Dry Creek,
LA 70634.
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In Memoriam
Jackson Lee Swisher
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In Memoriam
Daniel “Capt. Dan” Lemoine
Daniel "Capt. Dan" Lemoine, August 26, 1946 – June 19, 2018 Daniel "Capt. Dan" Alan Lemoine, beloved husband of Elizabeth Genovese Lemoine, proud father of Craig (deceased), Todd (Jodi), Eric (Jennifer), and Danielle (Glen). Cherished "Papa" of his 8 grandchildren, Brandon, Baylee, Ian, Nicholas, Ryleigh, Gaven, Talon, & Quinn. He went to be with his Lord on June 19, 2018 at UMC in New Orleans, surrounded by his devoted wife & children. We did not leave his side for 9 days after being struck by a car while riding his motorcycle. Capt. Dan was born to the late Anthony, Sr. and Edna Mae Lemoine at Port Hueneme Naval Base in California and was a lifelong resident of St. Bernard Parish. He was married to his high school sweetheart for 51 years. The family suffered the loss of their beloved first son, Craig, whom was struck by a car as well on
December 26, 1985. Dan's most cherished times were spent with his children, grandchildren and riding his motorcycle. Dan was a proud graduate of Chalmette High School, class of 1965. After graduation, he entered the Merchant Marines then joined the Navy. After attending radio school, he became a radio disc jockey for WCKW for "Dan's Round Round of Sound." Dan was the manager of K&B Drugs for 20 years before opening Capt. Dan's Cleaners. He was a commissioned officer with the St. Bernard Sheriff's Dept. For the past 18 years, he worked in the funeral industry until the time of his death. His passion was riding motorcycles for the past 60 years. He traveled over 1 million miles across the country, taking his children in tow, all as he described while "having a good one." Dan prided himself as a safe driver & had not had a motorcycle accident until now, due to the negligence of another driver. Capt. Dan is also survived by his very special "Uncle Dennis" who he cherished like a father and his childhood friend Charles Mayaux, his only brother Anthony "Tony Lemoine, Jr, his sisters, Yvette Siebenkittel (Dave), Carol Gillian (AJ), many nieces, nephews and friends. The family would like to especially thank the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Dept, St Bernard Parish Fire Dept, Acadian EMS and especially the exceptional medical staff of the Trauma ICU at UMC in New Orleans. Family and friends; Priests and Parishioners of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church were invited to attend the funeral. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2621 Colonial Blvd, Violet, LA, on Friday, June 22, 2018 at 1:30 P.M. Interment, Private. Visitation was held at 10:30 A.M. IN THE CHURCH. Family and friends were invited for a gathering following at his daughter's home. Plants preferred or donations to St. Bernard Chapter of The Compassionate Friends, 1210.
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In Memoriam
Lowell Sibille, Jr.
Mr. Sibille, age 79, a resident of Opelousas, passed away on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at his home. He is survived by his children, Jill Sibille Manuel and husband, Mark, Lowell Sibille III and wife, Wendy, and Blane Sibille and wife, Kitty; former wife, Sylvia Dodge Sibille; step-children, David Doucet and wife, Jacinda, Chuck Doucet and wife, Melanie, Michelle Pavy and husband, Felix, and Nichole Dupre and husband, Ray; sisters, Josephine Kuntz and Juliette Kuylan and husband, Doug; grandchildren, Nicole Dupuis Omicioli and husband, Mike, Seth Dupuis and wife, Lorali, Allie Dupuis Schexnayder and husband, David, Aston Sebastien, Blair J. Sibille and wife, Muneera, Saxon S. Sibille and wife, JaNaye’, Blane Sibille, Jr. and wife, Angela, Kara Sibille and Ariel Sibille; great-grandchildren, Brach Minyard, Sophia Dupuis, Daimen Sebastien, Gabrielle Omicioli, Scarlet Omicioli, Mary Dupuis,
Amelia Schexnayder, David Michael Schexnayder, Julia Dupuis, Rebecca Ann Sibille, Aven Sibille, Bruce Sibille, Dean Sibille, and Blane Sibille III. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lowell Sibille, Sr. and Monique Guilbeau Sibille; wife, Dolores Quebedeaux Sibille, daughter, Jeanine Sibille; and sisters, Camille and Elizabeth Sibille. Visitation was held on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. in the Sibille Funeral Home in Opelousas. The Rosary was prayed by Reverend James Brady at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Visitation resumed on Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m.
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Classifieds Company Page
American Benefit Life Insurance Company 2
Bourgeois Casket Company, Inc. 14
Federated Insurance 9
Lamcraft 15
Messenger 4
Matthews Aurora Funeral Solutions 11
Selected Funeral Life Insurance Company 8
Classified ads are provided as a complimentary service to LFDA members. Ads will run for one issue, unless an extension is requested. To place your classified ad, send a Word document with the information to:
LFDA News P.O. Box 82531
Baton Rouge, LA 70884 Or Email: [email protected]
The ad will appear in the following newsletter. The printed ad should not be deemed to constitute a recommendation or endorsement of any type by LFDA.
Advertiser Index
P.O. Box 82531
Baton Rouge, LA 70884
Phone: 225.767.7640 Fax: 225.767.7648
www.lfdaweb.org
Save the Date
Southwest District Meeting August 15, 2018 Lafayette, LA
NFDA International Convention & Expo October 14-17, 2018 Salt Lake City, UT
LFDA Fall Meeting November 29, 2018 Alexandria, LA
Annual Joint Convention June 2-4, 2019 New Orleans, LA