Jean Lapeyre

Jean Hanson Lapeyre, beloved father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on October 5, 2015, surrounded by his daughters, at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. Born in Houma, Louisiana, on September 25, 1930, Jean, fondly known as T-Jean, was fourth of the eight children of Emile M. Lapeyre and Louise Dupont. He graduated from University of Notre Dame in 1951, and returned to Houma to work at Grand Calliou Packing Company, the family business. He began his 50-year marriage to Janet Kerne of Thibodaux in 1955. In 1979, several years after Jean began work at Digicourse Inc., the family moved to the Old Metairie section of New Orleans, Louisiana. Jean designed and built a camp on Grand Isle which became central to the life of his large and loving family. Generations of Lapeyres have enjoyed time together on the island fishing, crabbing, listening to bel canto opera and most of all talking and sharing stories. Jean’s deep commitment to his Catholic faith and his desire to pass that faith on to his family were the focus of his life. In his later years, he frequently said, “My purpose for living is to be an example of faith to my children and grandchildren.” His gentle demeanor, humor, and joy of living, all a reflection of his devotion to Jesus, touched many lives beyond the circle of his immediate family. He will be missed by many. Preceded in death by his wife Janet, granddaughter Rebecca Claire Fakier and brothers J.M., Emile and Louis Lapeyre, Jean is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Dianne (Joe) Caverly, Maria (Bob) Gillcrist, Yvette (Robert) Hale, Laura (David) Fakier, Jenny (Bill) Meyer, and Emilie (Keith) Krut, 22 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, brothers Pierre and Harold Lapeyre and sisters Alice Louise Vales and Annette Huggins. Visitation will be at LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5:00-8:00 pm on Thursday, October 8th and 9:00-10:30 am on Friday, October 9th; a Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 am at ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH, 444 Metairie Rd., in Metairie, LA. Donations in his name may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, or Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans.