2023 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 73
BY SENATOR FRED MILLS
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana upon the
death of Wade Joseph Broussard Jr.
WHEREAS, Wade Joseph Broussard Jr., was born on September 13, 1939, in New
Iberia, Louisiana, and was one of eight children to the late Wade J. Broussard Sr. and the late
Anna Mae Savoy Broussard; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Broussard graduated from New Iberia Senior High School and
attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which was known then as Southwestern
Louisiana Institute; and
WHEREAS, he was a devoted and loving husband for fifty-two years, a father,
grandfather, brother, and revered deacon of the Catholic Church; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wade started his career as an associate at Iberia Tractor and Supply,
then opened his own business, Wade's Magnavox Sales and Services, which he managed
from 1960 to 1985; thereafter he worked in sales with various satellite and wireless phone
companies in the Acadiana area; and
WHEREAS, he later found a sales position uniquely suited to him, selling various
types of insurance such as universal life, cancer, critical illness, long-term care, and
comprehensive disability for American General Life Insurance and Catholic Knights of
America; and
WHEREAS, as an acolyte for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, he served under
the guidance of Father Wayne Richard and Father Leo Schexnayder, who inspired him to
pursue his goal of becoming a deacon; and
WHEREAS, during reconstruction of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, he served
as an acolyte at the temporary location of the church, which was the New Iberia Movie
Theater; after each Mass, he operated movie projectors and theater lighting, allowing him
to hone his craft in electronics, and ultimately led him to build the first operational crystal
radio; and
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WHEREAS, after marrying Carol Ann Berges on November 5, 1966, Mr. Broussard
joined St. Peter's Catholic Church to further emboss his legacy of faith; and
WHEREAS, in 1995, he entered the Permanent Diaconate Program with the Catholic
Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, embarking on a five-year journey that culminated in his
ordination at St. John's Cathedral in the same diocese on February 12, 2000; and
WHEREAS, following his ordination, Deacon Broussard dedicated more than
twenty-five years of supplementaries to church parishioners, while serving as primary
counselor for the Holy Family Cemetery, offering beneficent support to grieving families
in Iberia Parish and neighboring areas; and
WHEREAS, after being appointed manager of the Holy Family Cemetery in 1998,
Deacon Broussard enhanced his knowledge of consecrated cemetery ground operations and
trauma counseling, by joining the National Catholic Cemetery Conference; and
WHEREAS, Deacon Broussard augmented his academic qualifications with
completed studies in cemetery management and theology from the University of Notre
Dame, and in furtherance of his curriculum vitae, he graduated in 2006 from John Carroll
University, a Jesuit institution in Cleveland, Ohio, conferring degrees in land management,
mental health counseling, and the psychology of death and dying; and
WHEREAS, after his appointment by Bishop Michael Jarrell with the Diocese of
Lafayette in 2010, Deacon Wade served on the newly established Diocesan Cemetery
Advisory Board, where he was instrumental in writing a homiletic handbook for Catholic
cemeteries and was subsequently chosen as a 2011 delegate to the Catholic Cemetery
Conference, earning the designation of Catholic Cemetery Executive; and
WHEREAS, Deacon Wade was the retreat captain for more than twenty-seven years
at Our Lady of Oaks Retreat House in Grand Coteau, Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Broussard was a lifelong member of the Knights of Columbus,
served in the Louisiana Army National Guard, and was an amazing cook for his family,
friends, and the downtrodden; and
WHEREAS, when asked about his favorite accomplishments as deacon, he would
often speak of the truest blessing in baptizing nine of his eleven grandchildren, presiding
over the marriages of his son Greg to his wife Jennifer and his oldest granddaughter Hannah
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to her husband Tyler, as well as remaining resolute in following in the footsteps of Jesus
Christ by helping the oppressed, consoling the sorrowful, strengthening the weak, and
revealing the power of the cross to believers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by giving countless
volunteer hours to The Community of Jesus Crucified in St. Martinville, Louisiana, and the
Sisters of the Sacred Heart; and
WHEREAS, until the day he entered into eternal peace and rest on April 3, 2023,
Deacon Wade shared his love of faith, family, and fellowship in parallel with untold comfort
he rendered to those who grieved and the beleaguered; and
WHEREAS, left to cherish the untold memories of Deacon Wade J. Broussard Jr. are
his children, Glenn Broussard and wife Jill, Monica B. Shoemaker and husband Aaron, and
Greg Broussard and wife Jennifer; his grandchildren whom he adored, Hannah B. Primeaux,
Victoria Broussard, Zachary Broussard, Kolby Broussard, Grace Shoemaker, Alex
Shoemaker, Lauren Broussard, Madelynne Broussard, and Ella Broussard; his sister and
brothers, Gloria Broussard, Allen Broussard, Warren Broussard, and Willien Broussard, and
a host of nieces, nephews, friends, and communities he served by powerfully living out his
faith.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend full-hearted and fervent condolences to the family of Deacon Wade
Joseph Broussard Jr. on the occasion of his death and does further acknowledge his
substantive contributions of faith in the community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
family of Wade Joseph Broussard Jr.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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