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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

Table of Contents Summer 2018 Edition

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

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


Southwest District Governor

Raymond Martin III Martin & Castille Funeral Home


North District Governor

Troy Dennard Young’s Funeral Home


Executive Director & Lobbyist David Tatman

[email protected]

Account Manager Jamie Freeman

[email protected]

LFDA P.O. Box 82531

Baton Rouge, LA 70884 Telephone: (225) 767-7640

Fax: (225) 767-7648 Email: [email protected]

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

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!

mailto:[email protected]

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

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

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


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


Membership Committee

Chairperson: Tiger Istre, Geesey-Ferguson FH


Nicole Charlet, Charlet Funeral Home


Troy Dennard, Young's Funeral Home

Raymond Martin, Martin & Castille FH

Outstanding District Award Committee

Chairperson: Brian Carroll, Batesville


Policy Board

Representative: Joel Swisher, Hixson Brothers FH

Resolutions Committee

Chairperson: Nicole Charlet Wilcher, Charlet FH


Nicole Charlet Wilcher, Charlet FH




Scholarship Committee

Chairperson: Justin Lee, Geesey-Ferguson FH

Member Brian Carroll, Batesville

Member RT Delhomme, Martin & Castille FH


Sponsorship Committee

Chairperson: Boyd Mothe, Jr., Mothe Funeral Homes


Nicole Charlet Wilcher, Charlet FH



State Board Liaison Committee

Chairperson: Edward Muhleisen, Millet-Guidry FH



Coroner Liaison

Chairperson: Nicole Charlet Wilcher, Charlet FH


Finance Committee

Chairperson: W. Bryan Price, Southern Funeral


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

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.

In Memoriam

Jackson Lee Swisher

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.

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.

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

[email protected]

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

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