Patricia Ditch Resweber

ST. MARTINVILLE – A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Mrs. Patricia Ditch “Pat” Resweber, age 78, at 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church. Rev. Msgr. Keith DeRouen will be the celebrant. Interment will follow in St. Michael Cemetery.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at Evangeline Funeral Home on Tuesday from 10:00 am until 9:00 pm. The Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 pm followed by an Assembly of God prayer service. The funeral home will reopen on Wednesday from 8:00 am until 10:30 am.

Pat, as she was known by family and friends, was born May 2, 1936 in Lafayette, LA to the late Melvin Francis Ditch, Sr. and Martha Eve Broussard Ditch Verret, and passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 16, 2014 in her beloved St. Martinville.

She graduated from Mount Carmel High School in Lafayette and attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana. She was recognized as a dedicate Community leader of St. Martinville and was named Outstanding Citizen in 1965. As a member of the Historic District Commission, she was instrumental in the creation of the Acadian Memorial concept and project. Later, as a charter member of the St. Martinville Heritage Center project commission, she was instrumental in the creation of two museums, The Museum of the Acadian Memorial and The African American Museum.

She received numerous awards over her career but one special award stands out from the rest. At the 2004 Congres Mondial Acadien, Pat was named “La Dame Beausoleil” by the Famille Beausoleil in Nova Scotia. Most recently, she was awarded the 2013 Leaders in Philanthropy Award at the Cajun Dome by the Community Foundation of Acadiana. Pat was also very involved in other clubs and organizations, The Girl Scouts (a former leader), past PTA President, Garden Club, Beta Rho Charter office, Catholic Daughters, Cruisin Cajuns, C’est La Vie Campers, and the Les Amis Cajuns RV Club.

As much pride as she took in her community and heritage, nothing was more important to her than her faith, her husband, and her family. She was an amazing daughter, wife, mother and grandmother and will always be remembered in the hearts of her grand and great grandchildren as “MeMe.” She will be dearly missed.

Survivors include her children, Martha R. Hebert (Danny), Rebecca R. Guidry, and Eugene L. Resweber, III (Cecilia); 12 grandchildren, Monique H. Sanchez (Jonathan), Daniel Hebert (Jami), Holly Hebert, Jacob Guidry (Erin), Jared Guidry (Lauren), Jordan Guidry, Jewel Guidry, Jenna Guidry, Eugene L. Resweber, IV, Marie Louise Bridgeman (Steve), Annamarie Resweber, and Ian Resweber; 10 great grandchildren, Marianna and Dominic Sanchez, Grace, Averi and Autumn Hebert, Kaleb, Gabriel, Maddox and Abigail Guidry, Huxley Resweber; and her brothers, Col. Oliver Perry “O.P.” Ditch, RET (Shirley), and Lionel Ditch.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband E.L. “Brother” Resweber, Jr.; brothers, Melvin and Roland Ditch; sister, Elaine Thayer; and step-father, Clegg Verret.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Reswebers name to the Acadian Memorial Foundation, 121 S New Market St., St. Martinville, LA 70582.

To view the online obituary and sign the guestbook, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com

Evangeline Funeral Home of St. Martinville (337) 394-4188 is in charge of arrangements.