Claire Suiter Harper

New Iberia – A service of Christian Burial for Rhea Claire Suiter Harper, 92, will be held at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2018, at First United Methodist Church, 119 Jefferson Street, in New Iberia. Entombment will follow in the Holy Family Cemetery beside her beloved husband, Daniel Eroy Harper, who died on March 13, 2007. Rev. Craig Davis will officiate. A gathering of family and friends will be Tuesday from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 9:00 am until 1:30 pm. A resident of New Iberia since 1962, Claire Harper died at 4:51 am on Monday, December 10, 2018 in Baton Rouge. After graduating from Crowley High School in 1944, Claire entered the work force as a bookkeeper at the Western Auto Store, later the J.C. Wilfert Company, then after marriage she was employed at Adam CPA during income tax season. Claire always said how blessed she felt, along with her husband, to take part in their children’s activities throughout their early years. Then once both children were in college, she resumed her work career where she spent 27 pleasurable years in real estate. Claire started working at Sugarland Real Estate in 1976 and later Century 21 Shadows Real Estate. She then worked at Caffery Real Estate until retirement when her dear husband, Dan, became ill. Throughout the years, Claire was ever faithful to God through her activities in membership at First United Methodist Church, the Delta Daylily Society and the Former Iberia Community Concert Association, and more recently as a member of the Azalea Garden Club. She is survived by her two devoted children, Dr. David Elliott Harper, MD and wife Missy of Baton Rouge and Dr. Melanie Claire Harper, PhD of San Antonio; two precious grandchildren, Lauren Camille Harper and Andrew Winford Harper; and also blessed with a step granddaughter, Hannah Broussard and Ainsley Pittman; sister-in-law, Bobbie Harper; nieces and nephews, Michael Suiter and wife Cheryl, Barbara Richard, Helen Matherne and husband Dirk, Mark Suiter, Beryl Ann Steilberg, Kathy Harper Leone, Debra Harper Corley and husband Dr. Jack Corley; along with a number of great nieces and great nephews; and a great grandchild due to arrive in April. Claire was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 52 years, Daniel Eroy Harper; parents, Ernest Rufus Suiter, Sr. and Ida Dee Chachere Suiter; paternal grandparents, Alexander James Suiter and Elizabeth Margaret Connely Suiter; maternal grandparents, Louis Beaurepaire Chachere and Mary Maude White Chachere (Mama); brothers, Ernest Rufus Suiter, Jr. and Louis James Suiter; sister, Constance Delois Suiter Bier LeBlanc; sister-in-law, Grace LeBlanc Suiter; brother-in-law, Huey P. Harper; nephews, Ben Harper and A.B. Forres, III (Bert); 12 aunts and uncles. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, (337-365-3331) is in charge of arrangements.