Mary Louise Harper

Rynella – Funeral services will be at St. Marcellus Catholic Church at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 8, 2026, for Mary Louise Harper, 83, who passed away peacefully on Monday, August 3, 2026, at The Carpenter House of St. Joseph Hospice in Lafayette.

Entombment will follow in the church cemetery.

Deacon Joshua LeBlanc will officiate.

Please join us as we celebrate Mary’s life, share treasured memories, and honor the remarkable woman who meant so much to so many. Visitation will be at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia on Friday from 4:00 pm until 9:00 pm and will resume on Saturday from 8:00 am until 10:15 am.

A rosary, led by the Men’s Rosary Group, will be prayed at 6:00 pm on Friday.

Mary Louise Abshire Harper, known as “Pitch” (“Pichouette”) to those she grew up with, was born on March 8, 1943, in New Iberia, Louisiana, and grew up in the Rynella community.

Mary was a strong, resilient woman who overcame many of life’s hardships with grace, determination, and faith. No matter what life brought her way, she always found a way to keep going. She had a heart big enough for everyone, loved without hesitation, and always put her family first. 

Throughout her life, Mary enjoyed sewing, crafting, cooking, fishing, and dancing, especially Zydeco. She had an eye for beauty and a gift for creating it. She truly never met a stranger and had a special way of making everyone feel comfortable, welcomed, and like family. 

Mary proudly served for many years as a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She also spent many years caring for children, touching countless lives with her kindness. Even years later, many of the children she cared for still recognized her and remembered her fondly. 

Above all, Mary treasured being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Nothing brought her more joy than her family, and her strength, loyalty, and unconditional love will continue to live on through them. 

Mary leaves behind her children, Brian Harper (Shannen), Vickie Rivet (Phil), and Angela Guilbeau (Charles); grandchildren, Tyler Harper, Emily Moorman (Dylan), Alex Harper, Cody Fuselier, Megan Marks (Dustin Derouen), Heidi Rivet (Camron Spencer), Hanns Rivet, Hailey Harper (Jacob Champagne), and Cadin Guilbeau; and great-grandchildren, Ellie Moorman, Maddie Moorman, Demi Fuselier, Colton Derouen, Jude Derouen, Keagyn Rivet, Kenstyn Rivet, Aveleigh Rivet, Dawson Champagne, Cruz Champagne, and Brady Rivet. 

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 55 years, Thomas Harper; son, Dwayne Harper; grandson, Payton Guilbeau; parents, Ada and Alexander Abshire; siblings, Gerald Abshire, Glen Abshire, Loveless Abshire, Alton Abshire, Percy Delcambre, Marnell Delcambre, Geraldean Abshire, Eviola Abshire, Margie Weekly, Adles Weekly, and Angelle Touchet; and a nephew, Steven Glenn Abshire. 

Serving as pallbearers are Charles Guilbeau, Cadin Guilbeau, Jacob Champagne, Dustin Derouen, Cody Fuselier, and Gary Marks. Honorary pallbearers are Brian Harper, Alex Harper, Dawson Champagne, Colton Derouen and Cruz Champagne.

To know Mary was to know unconditional love. She will be forever loved, forever missed, and forever remembered.

Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560 (337-365-3331).