Date of death: 5/8/2016
Saint Meinrad Class: PD 2012
Deacon Benny Broussard of Alexandria passed away on Sunday, May 8, 2016. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2016, in Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church, with the Most Rev. Ronald P. Herzog, and Rev. Dan OÆConnor officiating. Interment will follow in Alexandria Memorial Gardens under the direction of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home.Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, May 10, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and will resume on Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, in the Kramer Chapel.Benny is preceded in death by his father, Wilmore Joseph Broussard, Sr.; his mother, Edna Casey Broussard; brother, Wilmore Joseph Broussard, Jr.; and his sisters, Elizabeth Ann ôBettyö Broussard Doucet, and Melba Dolores Broussard Middleton.Benny was born in Elizabeth, LA on February 21, 1939. He was a 1957 graduate of Menard High School; and attended LSU before graduating from Northwestern State University with a B.A. degree. He also graduated from Nicholls State University with a Masters of Education. Benny was a teacher and principal in the Terrebonne Parish School System for 33 years. During his tenure he served terms as President of the Terrebonne Principals Association and the Louisiana Association of Principals. His love was working with junior high students.Upon retirement, he and his wife Joy returned to Alexandria. Benny felt a calling by God to work toward becoming a deacon in the Catholic Church. In preparation to becoming a deacon he completed a ministry program from Loyola University; he then completed a 4 ╜ year program through St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology. Through GodÆs blessings, he was ordained as a Deacon in the Catholic Church on March 4, 2012. Deacon Benny served at St. James and St. Julianna from the time of his ordination to the present. He served his God by ministering to people in need.Benny was a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus and a member of Council 8029 at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church.He loved people and loved serving them. Benny always greeted everyone with a smile and kind words. His greatest joy was teasing his family and friends and making them laugh. Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 55 years, Joy Oxley Brossard; his brothers-in-law, Glenn Middleton, Sr., and Jesse Powers; sisters-in-law, Kay Oxley Powers and Nancy Oxley; nephews, Glenn Middleton, Jr., Bill Broussard (Cindy), David Stefaniak (Fran), David Oxley and Joey Oxley; nieces Laura Middleton Case (Mike), Kristin Powers and Kristal Joy Powers Jones (Todd); and great nephews, Candor Jones, Bradley Oxley, and Kyle Oxley.Pallbearers honored to serve will be fellow Deacons, and the members of Knights of Columbus Council 8029.In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church, Capital Building Fund, 401 21st Street, Alexandria, LA 71301; to St. MaryÆs Residential Training School, Post Office Drawer 7768, Alexandria, LA 71306; or to St James Catholic Church, Building Fund, 714 Winn Street, 71301.