Willie Joseph Dupree Jr.

NEW IBERIA – A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted for Willie Joseph Dupree, Jr., age 80, at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at St. Edward Catholic Church. Msgr. Ronald Broussard will be the celebrant for the services. Interment will follow at St. Edward Mausoleum.

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. Dupree passed away at 3:00 am on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at his residence.

Mr. Dupree was a fork lift operator at the salt mine at Avery Island for more than 30 years. He was a self-taught mechanic who enjoyed working on cars in his spare time. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his sons, Willie Dupree, III and wife Winnie and Gerald Dupree, Sr. and wife Mary all of New Iberia; seven daughters, Catherine D. Alexander; Jeannie Dupree; Lisa Marie Dupree all of New Iberia; Debra D. Woods and husband Gary of Lake Charles; Brenda Dupree of California; Carla Dupree of Lafayette and Margaret Rodriguez of Tampa Florida; seventeen grandchildren and twenty one great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife Anna Mae Brooks Dupree; son, Steven James Dupree, Sr.; parents, Willie Joseph Dupree, Sr. and Mary Benoit Dupree; brother, Jeffery Ellzey and four sisters, Rebecca B. Ellzey; Orelia E. Hill; Cleotha Ellzey and Elizabeth E. Delcambre.

Pallbearers will be Willie Dupree, III.; Gerald Dupree, Sr., Eric Dupree, Brandon Dupree, Milton Alexander, Jr. and Christopher Dupree.

Honorary pallbearers will be Roland Hill, Derrick Dupree, Steven Dupree, Jr. and Gary Woods, Jr.

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.