Louis Duplechain

aligncenterLOUIS JOSEPH L.J. DUPLECHAIN
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Opelousas-Funeral services for Mr. Louis Joseph L.J. Duplechain, age 75, will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 9, 2006, with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church and Burial will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park in Opelousas. Father Angelo Cremaldi will celebrate the Mass.
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LOUIS JOSEPH DUPLECHAIN died at 12:17 p.m. on Friday, October 06, 2006, in the J. Michael Morrow Memorial Nursing Home in Arnaudville, LA. He is originally from the farming community known at Durald, which is between Eunice and Mamou. The youngest of nine children, he was reared during the Great Depression.
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During his early age, he learned the hardships of life on a small family farm. He did his share of picking cotton, digging sweet potatoes, working in the rice fields, helping with all the livestock. Growing up when there was no electricity, no running water, phones, radio, television, and no indoor plumbing, L.J. says is what built his foundation for life.
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After graduation from Mamou High School, he enlisted and served four years in the United States Air Force from October 1948 through August 7, 1952. His last two years was spent in Southern Japan during and in direct support of the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge, he enrolled at ULL then College SLI and obtained a degree in Geology.
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Employment followed in the Geophysical field with La Oil Exploration Company in New Iberia and Lafayette. He was then named General Agent for the St. Landry Parish Farm Bureau. Subsequently he was employed as a loan officer for the Opelousas Production Credit Association in Opelousas.
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In 1967, he was called upon and served as President of the Federal Land Bank Association in New Iberia when his territory covered the entire sugar cane belt, numbering 13 parishes. It was in 1978, he returned to Opelousas and was elected to serve as Executive Director of the Louisiana Sweet Potato Advertising and Development Commission, where he promoted and advertised the industry on a national level. There he retired at age 65, due to his physical condition.
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Duplechain said his proudest accomplishment is having found and married a local girl, Mary Ellen Landreneau from Durald, who gave birth to their seven children. Following the loss of his first wife in 2001, he then remarried Dornetta Devillier from Eunice.
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L.J. once was a member of the Rotary club, Kiwanis, W.O.W. and was at his death a member of the Catholic Church servicing in and actively involved in various church organizations across south Louisiana. Duplechain was very active with the Yambilee as a board member and is a lifetime honorary member. He is also a member of the LA Sweet Potato Board and is also a lifetime honorary member as well.
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At his death, he was still active as a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Opelousas Elks Lodge No. 1048.
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Survivors include: his wife, Dornetta Devillier Duplechain from Eunice; Two sons: Gregory Duplechain and wife, Missy from Lafayette; and Byron Duplechain and wife, Karen, of Nederland TX; Five daughters: Cynthia Duplechain Guillory and husband, David of Lafayette; Melissa Duplechain Pellerin of Youngsville; Delia Duplechain Kolb and husband, Timothy of Arnaudville; Angela Duplechain Blanchard and husband, Clyde of Carencro; and Tanya Duplechain Pastorick and husband, Roark of Opelousas. He is blessed with the joy of having 14 grandchildren. He is also survived by one brother, Chris Duplechain of Lafayette.
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L.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Francois and Corais, six brothers, Thanas, Cleveland, Claude, Murphy, and Dallas and two sisters, Esther Blanchard and Lorena Boone.
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Pallbearers will be his sons and sons-in-law.
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The family requests that visitation be held on Saturday, October 7, 2006, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas. On Sunday, visitation will continue in the funeral home from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. On Monday, visitation will continue from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home.
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A Rosary service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday in the funeral home.
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Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com.
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Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.

Visitation

Sibille Funeral Home
2309 George Drive
Opelousas, LA  70570
Monday, October 9, 2006
59p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.9 p.m.,

Service

Mass of Christian Burial

Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church
2125 S. Union St.
Opelousas, LA  70570
Monday, October 9, 2006
10 a.m.

Cemetery

Bellevue Memorial ParkH
4833 Highway 182
Opelousas, LA  70570