Funeral services will be conducted for Mrs. Emma Jean Page Breaux, 86, at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at First Baptist Church. Rev. Ed Downs will officiate. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Mausoleum.

A gathering of family and friends will be held on Friday from 4 p.m. until 1 p.m., and on Saturday from 8 a.m. until services at Evangeline Funeral Home.

Ms. Jean, whom she liked to be called, was 86 years old and the only child of Izella Brock Franklin. She was born July 29, 1923, in Mobile, Ala. Mrs. Jean was accepted gracefully into the house of the Lord on Oct. 21, 2009, from Iberia Medical Center in New Iberia.

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New Iberia was home to her for two-thirds of her life. She was a Boy Scout leader for many years. She helped organize a Neighborhood Watch near her home. And being an Army wife, she traveled and lived in many states and overseas in Germany and France.

As a young child, she was raised on a farm, plowing the fields. Her limited second-grade education was never visible because educating her five children and traveling gave her a Master’s degree in life. She was a warm, sweet human being, but she also could hold her own. The trials and tribulations of life met with many difficult situations but she persevered and held her family dear to her. She will be joyfully remembered, but sadly missed by anyone who ever had the pleasure of knowing her.

Survivors include her children James Robert Meredith and wife, Betty Jo, of Bainbridge, Ga., Peggy Ann Lorio and husband, Ullyn, of Melville, Katherine M. Viator and husband, Steve, of New Iberia, Joseph Breaux Jr. and wife of New Iberia and John F. Breaux of Arabie; grandchildren Lawrence “Larry” Henry Cherry Jr., Wanda Jean M. Milliman, Andre’ “Andy” Viator, MD,  Jimmy Meredith, Tammy Godsey, Angela Waters, Charline Kimbrel, Robert “Rob” Meredith, Izella Kathryne Rabon, John Wyatt Meredith, Diana Meredith, Elwood Bailey, Krista Bailey, Kevin Breaux and Brian Keith Chaisson; 27 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Izella Brock Franklin; father, Herman Page; stepfather, Walter Franklin; first husband, James Meredith; and grandchildren Tommy Lee Cherry, Cynthia Lane Meredith, Pamela Bailey Chaisson and Zachary Breaux.

Pallbearers will be  John F. Breaux, Lawrence H. “Larry” Cherry Jr., Andre’ “Andy” S. Viator, MD, Michael Cherry, Bradley James Milliman and Lloyd Milliman Jr.

Honorary pallbearers will be James Robert Meredith, Steve Viator, Ullyn Lorio, John Wyatt Meredith, Glenward Dugas and Brandy Milliman.

To view the online obituary and video tribute, and to leave condolences, please visit www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.

Evangeline Funeral Homes, 314 E. Saint Peter St., New Iberia 364-1881 is in charge of arrangements.