Joseph "Bernie" Bernard Bellard

Lafayette - A Liturgy of the Word will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at 1:00 PM in the chapel of Cypress Funeral Home in Maurice for Joseph “Bernie” Bernard Bellard, age 79, who passed away on Thursday, March 12, 2026 in Lafayette. Deacon Keith Duhon will officiate the service. Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 21, 2026 from 10:00 AM until service time at Cypress Funeral Home. Bernie was born on January 20, 1947 in Church Point, and he was a resident of Lafayette. He graduated from Lafayette High in 1965; Bernie played baseball and played in the band, with the tuba as his instrument of choice. He was a mechanic in the Navy during the Vietnam war, traveled the world, and was a boxer during his time serving his country. He spent many of his years working as an HSE coordinator and consultant for Grizzly Group, Nexen Petroleum Co., and Petroquest Energy. Bernie also worked as a facility lead operator, training coordinator, and handled program development and implementation for Phillips Petroleum Co. Bernie was an avid outdoorsman that loved hunting and fishing. He was a member of the Acadiana Bass Club and enjoyed going to bass tournaments in Toledo Bend. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time at his friend, Tom Kilgore’s camp out there in Toledo Bend. Duck hunting was another passion of his. He was handy with just about every tool and enjoyed being able to fix anything that needed fixing, especially his pride and joy, his bass boat, Big Red. He had a love for his hats and a good cup of coffee. Most importantly he loved his family, and he will be dearly missed by them and many others. Bernie is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sharon K. Bellard; his children, Frank “Joey” Bellard (Janise) and Brett Bellard; his grandchildren, Blake, André, Teague, Marissa, Dylan, and Emily Bellard; his brothers, John Bellard (Mona), and James Bellard; as well as his sister-in-law, Helen Bellard. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Percy Bellard and Maydel Bellard; and his siblings, Donald Bellard, Gregory Bellard, Gussie Clement (Richard) and Janell Pravata (Philip). The family would like to extend a special thank you to Sarah Forsthoff and Tiffany Groetsch of Brookdale for their tireless efforts to provide the best care for Bernie; his caretaker, Magnolia Eskano with Right at Home; Marguerite Hoffman for her compassion and support given to Bernie; as well as Hospice of Acadiana for bringing him comfort and peace in his final days. Arrangements have been entrusted to Cypress Funeral Home & Crematory, 206 W. Lafayette St., Maurice, LA 70555.

Joseph "Bernie" Bernard Bellard

January 20, 1947 - March 12, 2026