Vincent X. Sonnier

LAFAYETTE - Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, 2006, at a Mass of Christian Burial in The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist for Vincent X. Sonnier, 89, who passed away peacefully at 1:59 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2006, at his residence in Lafayette

Entombment will be in Fountain Memorial Gardens Cemetery Mausoleum.

The Rev. Monsignor Glen John Provost, pastor of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, will be the celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services

Vincent X. Sonnier was born in Crowley, LA. to C.C. and Aimee Haines Sonnier. He was preceded in death by his son, V. Farley Sonnier; and his six brothers, Alden, Bruce, Vernon, Edward, Paul and Earl.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy Duhon Sonnier; and his daughter, Anne Sonnier, his three grandchildren, Stephanie Sonnier Grand, Christy Sonnier Roemer and Aimee Paige Sonnier; five great-granddaughters; and one great- grandson.

Vincent was a reservist during World War II at the New Orleans Navy Airfield where he instructed flight. After the war, he worked as a petroleum landman for over 50 years. He was the first member of the Lafayette Petroleum Club. Fascinated by the history of Louisiana, Vincent became well-versed on the Battle of New Orleans and lectured about this battle for various groups locally. He pursued his genealogy for several years and found the majority of his ancestors dating back to the 15th century. He was an avid member of the local genealogy club.

He enjoyed deep-sea fishing in the Gulf of Mexico and hunting in the rice fields of Vermillion Parish. He rarely missed a day of hunting during the season and was asked to judge many duck and goose calling contests in the area.

Fluent in French and English, he pursued learning the Spanish language through self-study and his association with the Lafayette Spanish Club. He regularly volunteered at the Lafayette Visitor and Tourism Center in Lafayette and truly enjoyed meeting travelers with whom he could speak French or Spanish.

Vincent was an ardent and active member of the Republican Party and never missed an opportunity to vote. He especially loved the comraderie he had with his friends of the "round table" for weekly lunch at the Petroleum Club.

He will be missed tremendously by his family and friends.

A rosary will be prayed today, Nov. 10, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. in Martin & Castille Funeral Home in Lafayette.

The family requests that visitation be observed today from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and will continue Saturday from 8 a.m. until time of services.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com

Martin & Castille Funeral Home Inc. of Lafayette, (337) 234-2311, has been chosen to help with the arrangements.