Mrs. "L.D." Bernard, the former Amelie Coussan, 87, of Broussard passed away peacefully Sunday, April 30, 2006.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2006 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Broussard. Rev. Louis Richard will be the celebrant, with Deacon Joe Trahan assisting. Entombment will follow in the church mausoleum.

Amelie was born and raised in Carencro and was a resident of Broussard since her marriage to L.D. in 1946. She attended Mt. Carmel Catholic School for her primary and secondary education, then attained a degree in secretarial science from S.L.I. in Lafayette. She was employed as court stenographer in the Louisiana District Courts system in Lafayette as the first stenographer who could record in French. At the end of World War II, and the return of her "beau", they were married, moved to Broussard and began raising their family. Amelie was active in her community and church as a member of the Sacred Heart Ladies Altar society, PTA of St. Cecilia School while her children were enrolled, for many years as a Community Fair worker, for 25 years as sacristan, and was a founding board member of the St. Cecilia Foundation. She also helped in repairing and painting numerous church items for Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's Catholic churches in Broussard including statues and furniture repaired or constructed in L.D.'s workshop. L.D. and Amelie's passion was making wooden toys, distributed to friends and loved ones and stockpiled for sales or raffles in the annual church fair. She will also undoubtedly be remembered by many for her yearly contribution of numerous batches of her "gold brick fudge" sold and raffled at the annual fair. For their untiring service to the church, Amelie and L.D. received the Bishops Service Award in 2003. Amelie will be deeply missed by all who knew her especially her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren

Her survivors include daughter, Paulette Pinion and husband Michael of Tulsa, OK; son David and wife Linda of Broussard; grandchildren Michelle Citron of Mandeville LA, Amanda Bernard Castille and husband Brandon of Dallas TX, Philip Pinion of Tulsa OK, Angelle Bernard of Broussard, David L. Bernard of Broussard and great- grandchildren Alex Vincent son of Angelle, Jacob Ward son of Michelle, Connor Henley son of Philip, and Joseph David son of Brandon and Amanda Castille, sister Odette Coussan of Carencro, and brothers Riolan of Carencro and Doucet of Lafayette.

She was preceded in death by her husband L.D., her mother Philomene Doucet Coussan and Father Paul Coussan, Sr., sisters Paulette Coussan, Odile (Sr. Agusta Marie O'Carm), Heloise C. Corne, and brothers Stephan A. Coussan, Ambroise S. Coussan, Paul, Jr. (twin brother), and Dr. Louis G. Coussan.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are grandsons David L. Bernard, Philip Pinion, and nephews, Charles Corne, Wayne Corne Robert Coussan and Luke Coussan.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Cecilia School Foundation, music fund, St. Joseph Church in Broussard, The Alzheimer's Association or the American Red Cross, Hurricane Relief Fund.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. today at David Funeral Home, 316 Youngsville Highway, in Lafayette. A rosary will be prayed at 6 p.m. this evening. Visitation will continue from 9 a.m. Wednesday until time of service.

David Funeral Home of Lafayette is in charge of the arrangements.