Father Francis L. Bourgeois

MAMOU – Father Francis L. Bourgeois, 80, a native of Mamou and resident of Consolata Home in New Iberia passed away Monday, December 21, 2015. Visitation was held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Mamou on Sunday, December 27, from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and again on Monday, December 28, from 8:00 a.m. until time of service. A rosary was prayed in his honor on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Monday, December 28 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Mamou, Louisiana. Burial followed in the St. Ann’s Cemetery with Bishop Michael Jarrell, celebrant.
Father Bourgeois was born in Church Point, Louisiana, and attended public school in Mamou. He then continued his education at Immaculata Seminary in Lafayette and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He was ordained a Priest of God on June 3, 1961 for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette and faithfully served God and His people for 53 years.
His priestly assignments included: June of 1961 at St. Therese in Abbeville, June of 1966 at St. Joseph in Rayne, December of 1967 at Our Lady of Sacred Heart in Church Point, January of 1971 at St. Peter Apostle in Gueydan, February of 1973 at St. John Vianney in Bell City, March of 1977 at St. Lawrence in Mowata, August of 1978 at St. Stephen in Berwick, July of 1981 at Sacred Heart in Ville Platte, December of 1983 at Holy Rosary in Kaplan, April of 1984 at St. Joseph in Iota, and January of 1992 at St. Leo IV in Roberts Cove. On July 20, 2008, he left St. Leo IV with a heavy heart to begin retirement in Mamou.
He was indeed a very gentle, good and caring person which manifested itself to the end. He enjoyed people and traveling; especially out west to meet his sister Sybil in Arizona to vacation and sightsee. On these trips, he took along his mom and other relatives.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his sister, Yvonne B. Gillis of Marietta, Georgia, brother, Larry Bourgeois and wife, Leila, of Jackson, Louisiana, nephew, Sean Gillis, and nieces, Pamela B. Bordelon and Patricia Hoskins and husband, John.
He now joins in Heaven his parents, Ernest R. Bourgeois of Church Point and Celeste Landreneau Bourgeois of Mamou and his sister Sister Sybil Bourgeois O.P. of the Eucharistic Missionaries of St. Dominic.
Memorial donations may be made in his memory to Hospice of Acadian Inc. 2600 Johnston Street Suite 200, Lafayette, La 70503-3240.
Family and friends may view the online obituary and/or leave words of comfort at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.
Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Mamou was in charge of arrangements.