Paul Lloyd Dartez

NEW IBERIA – A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted for Mr. Paul Lloyd Dartez, age 88, at 2:30 pm Saturday, May 12, 2012 at Nativity of Our Lady Catholic Church with Fr. Mike Arnaud officiating. Interment will be held at Nativity of Our Lady Mausoleum with military honors by VFW Post #1982.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm on Friday with a Rosary at 6:30 pm. The funeral home will reopen at 8:00 am on Saturday until service time.

A native and resident of New Iberia, Mr. Dartez passed away at 8:06 am on Thursday May 10, 2012 at Regional Medical Center.

Mr. Dartez was a veteran of WWII, having served his country honorably as a Merchant Marine. He was an active member of the VFW Post #1982 of New Iberia, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and the Cajun French Music Association.

He was the owner of Paul’s IGA (known as Stein’s Superette), Dartez Construction, and Dartez Foods.

He loved dancing and gardening and always welcomed and enjoyed a good political conversation.

The legacy he left to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren is his diligent work ethic, generosity and family loyalty.

Mr. Dartez is survived by his six daughters, Elizabeth D. Arcement; Terry Magar and husband Richard; Gwen LeBlanc and husband Kenny; Ellen Abney and husband Mark and Darla David and husband Richard all of New Iberia and Deena Cook and husband Paul of Geismer; two sons, Robert Paul Dartez and wife Deborah Bullock of Kingwood, TX and John Keith “Pete” Dartez and wife Lisa Robin of New Iberia; two sisters, Anna Mae Dartez Judice and Bertha Dartez Breaux both of New Iberia; his former wife, Olive Marie Romero Dartez of New Iberia; special friend Alice Martinez of New Iberia. He is also survived by thirty grandchildren, Sonya Brown, Rhonda Weniger, Naomi Dartez, Rachel Steadman, Brandi Olden, Robert Arcement, Shannon LeBlanc, Shellie Norris, Christina Nizzo, Jacob LeBlanc, Ryan Dartez, Brandon Savoy, Kristian Magar, Nicole Foster, Shawna Falgout, Meghan Magar, Marcus Abney, Michael Abney, Matthew Abney, David Abney IV, Melissa Abney, Crystal Harrington, Mandy Dartez, Mindy Dartez, Quinn David, Olivia Vidrine, Rebekah David, Laine Cook, Mechelle Defiore and Shawn Cook and forty six great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Michael Wayne Dartez and an infant son James Edward Dartez; Parents, Anatole and Claria Hebert Dartez; sons in law, Glenn St. Upery and Hilton Paul “Boogie” Arcement and five brothers, Neville “Stan”, Joe, Roy, Doris “Sue” and Johnny Dartez.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Dartez, Kristian Magar, Shannon LeBlanc, Marcus Abney, Shawn Cook, Quinn David and Robert Arcement.

Honorary pallbearers will be David Abney IV, Brandon Savoy, Jacob LeBlanc, Laine Cook, Micahel Abney and Matthew Abney.

Memorial donations may be made to Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, 3501 North Causeway Blvd, Suite 940, Metairie, LA 70002.

To view on-line obituary, video tribute and sign the guest register, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.

Evangeline Funeral Homes, Inc. of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements.