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- Joseph B. Mehal
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LAFAYETTE - Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 11, 2005, at a Mass of Christian Burial in the St. Leo the Great Catholic Church for Joseph B. Mehal, 88, who died at 11:15 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, 2005, at his Lafayette residence.
Interment will be in the Calvary Cemetery.
The Rev. Paul G. Bienvenu, pastor of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church and St. Patrick Catholic Church, will be the celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the services.
Lectors will be Yvonne Duval and Marilynn "Lynn" Rockenschuh.
Soloist, Ron Moreau, accompanied on the organ by Phyllis Simar, will sing for the services, "Come To Me", "Here I Am, Lord", "Be Not Afraid" and "Just A Closer Walk With Thee".
A native of Hostetter, Pa., Mr. Mehal moved to Gary, Ind. after graduation where he worked in the steel mills. He was inducted into the Indiana National Guard, Cy (Cyclone Infantry Division) and in 1943 he was deployed to the Pacific Theatre, at which time he was transferred to a military police unit in Lafayette where he met his wife of 60 years. Mr. Mehal was discharged in 1945 and made his home in Lafayette because he didn't like shoveling snow.
Due to an automobile accident in 1969 he retired from the Railway Express after 25 years of service.
Mr. Mehal was a hardworking man who worked full-time, went to carpentry school and built his home at the same time. For his enjoyment and relaxation he wore out the dance floor doing the polka.
Mr. Mehal dearly loved the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Pirates and also enjoyed camping throughout the United States but his real passion was his faith in God, the Blessed Mother and his family.
Mr. Mehal was a member of the St. Leo-Seton Knights of Columbus Council No. 5345 and was a 4th Degree member of Bishop DuBourg Assembly.
He was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 69.
Survivors include his wife, Lucille B. Mehal, formerly Lucille Billeaud, of Lafayette; one daughter, Rebecca Fielding, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; two sons, Cyril "Cy" Mehal and his wife, Jearayne Garrett Mehal, and Matthew Joseph Mehal, all of Lafayette; eight grandsons, Sgt. Luke Fabacher, now serving in Iraq with the 256th Infantry, Heath Fabacher and his wife, Tanya, of Broussard, Garrett and Derrick Mehal, both of Lafayette, PFC Nathan Mehal, presently serving with the Marines in California, Ryan Joseph Mehal, of Mason, Texas, Richard Fielding and his wife, Sascha, of Atlanta, Ga., and Randolph Fielding and his wife, Jennifer, of Liberty Township, Ohio; one great-grandson, Tyler Hamilton, of Granite Falls, Wash.; one great-granddaughter, Rylee Brielle Fielding; two sisters, Irene Mehal, of Jeanette, Pa., and Catherine Panella and her husband, Frank, of Virginia Beach, Va.; one son-in-law, Clarence Fabacher; one sister-in-law, Julia Mehal, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and one brother-in-law, Eddie Kloos, of Homosossa, Fla.
He was preceded in death by one daughter, Emma Julia Fabacher; his parents, Matthew and Julia Kurdelak Mehal; three sisters, Cel Sivak and her husband, Mike, Mary Young and her husband, Glenn, and Pauline Kloos; three brothers, Matthew M. Mehal, Stephen A. Mehal and Cyril Mehal; and one son-in-law, Robert Fielding.
The family would like to thank the 3rd floor staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Dr. Kenneth McCarron, Dr. John Mickey and the staff of Home Concept of Care especially Christy Guidry and Chris Chastant, along with Hospice nurse and angel, Jo Doucet and caregiver, Tammy. Other heaven-sent angels were Raymond Himel, Colletta Baldridge and Joycelyn Miller, who came whenever needed.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mr. Mehal's name may be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70503.
An Honor Guard will be held by members of the 4th Degree Bishop DuBourg Assembly.
A rosary will be prayed at 3 p.m. today by members of the Catholic Daughters, St. Leo Altar Society, St. Leo Knights of Columbus Auxiliary and the Tuesday Block Rosary Group. A Knights of Columbus rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. today.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. today and will continue from 8 a.m. Friday until time of services.
Pallbearers will be Mr. Mehal's grandsons, Richy and Randy Fielding, Heath Fabacher and Garrett, Derrick and Nathan Mehal.
Honorary pallbearers will be Sgt. Luke Fabacher and Ryan Joseph Mehal.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Martin & Castille Funeral Home Inc. of Lafayette, (337) 234-2311.
Originally published February 10, 2005
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1950 - 2004 (53 years)
