Gerald Joseph Blanchard

Gerald Joseph Blanchard, 68, a native of Amelia and a resident of Morgan City died Tuesday, September 28, 2010, at Teche Regional Medical Center. Gerald was a man of deep faith, devoted to his wife, children and grandchildren. For many years, he enjoyed family trips to his sister’s farm in Newton, Texas and hunting and fishing with his sons in the marshes of Louisiana. He also remained very close to his home community of Amelia. Gerald was a Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, a member of the AARP, a life member of the American Welding Society and a parishioner of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City. After 38 years of service as a Production Engineer, Gerald retired from Avondale Shipyards where he worked in Amelia, Gulfport, Mississippi and New Orleans. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, JoAnn Cefalu Blanchard, his two sons, Brian Joseph and wife Stephanie of Lafayette, and Brett Paul of Houston, TX; his daughter, Deborah Ann B. Garber and husband, Scot of Berwick; his adopted daughter, Wendy F. Comeaux and husband Marc of Sugar Land, Texas; and sister-in-law, Mary B. Blanchard. Other survivors include his eight grandchildren, Gavin and Zachary Blanchard, Mary Grace Garber, Nicholas and Isabella Blanchard and Emily, Anna Marie and Matthew Comeaux , and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death, were his parents, Lester Paul and Georgie Tabor Blanchard, his brother, Carroll Paul Blanchard and sister, Eurlysia C. Johnson and husband, Jack Johnson of Newton, Texas. Pallbearers will be Brian Joseph and Brett Paul Blanchard, Scot Steven Garber, Errol James Tabor, Todd Allen Blanchard and Gavin Paul Blanchard. Visitation will be from 6:00pm to 9:00pm Thursday, September 30, 2010 at Twin City Funeral Home in Morgan City, with a rosary at 7:30pm. Visitation will resume at 9:00am until 10:30am Friday October 1, 2010 at the funeral home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00am Friday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morgan City, with burial in Morgan City cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Andrew Catholic Church, P.O. Box 310, Amelia, Louisiana 70340; or to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church maintenance fund, P.O. Box 632, Morgan City, Louisiana 70381.