Mariano Joseph Cortez

Mariano Joseph Cortez               Funeral services will be held Friday, June 9, 2017 at an 11:00 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in Maria Immacolata Catholic Church  for Mariano Joseph Cortez, age 91, who passed away peacefully Monday, June 5, 2017 at Virginia Lakeview Home in Willis, TX.             Interment will be in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery #2. The Rev. Joey Pillola, pastor of Maria Immacolata, will officiate at the services.             Born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised in Theriot, Louisiana, he was a resident of Houma, Louisiana for most of his life. He attended and graduated from Terrebonne High School, class of 1944. Shortly thereafter, he entered the United States Army during World War, II. After returning home, he eventually went to and graduated from the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science, becoming a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer. Mr. Cortez was the manager of the, then, First National Funeral Home in Houma for over thirty years. The remaining years were humbly served at the present Chauvin Funeral Home and Falgout Funeral Home until his retirement in 1985.             Mr. Cortez was a parishioner and Usher at Maria Immaculata Catholic Church for many years. He was a 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus Council # 1317 of Houma, a 4th Degree Assembly Knight of Columbus Council post # 336, Judge AJ Caillouet assembly and a member of the V.F.W post # 3700 in Houma. He was a past member of the Houma Rotary Club, the Civitan Club, Louisiana Funeral Directors Association and National Funeral Directors Association.             Survivors include his devoted wife of seventy-one years, the former Irene Duplantis Cortez of Houma; one son, Mark Cortez and his wife, Phyllis, of Carencro; three daughters, Patricia Ann Bergeron of Houma, Brenda LeSage and her husband, Edmund, of Houston, TX and Jana O'Brien and her husband, Michael, of Willis, TX; nine grandchildren, Michael Badeaux, Jr. and his wife, Dee Dee, Christi Badeaux and her husband, Russell, Brian Badeaux, Lindsey Cortez Palmer and her husband, Randy, Marcus Cortez and his wife, Brittany, Erin O'Brien Cullen and her husband, Robert, Alison O'Brien Molina and her husband, Jose', Kaitlin O'Brien Aguilar and her husband, Benji, and Sean O'Brien; thirteen great grandchildren, Haley Bunting, Datin Badeaux, Isaac and Sophia Molina, Joshua, Alex and Anya Cullen, Cheyenne', Cam and Cruz Palmer, McKlain and Brecc Cortez and Morgan LeSage Melancon.              He was preceded in death by one son, Ricky Paul Cortez; one granddaughter, Jill Elizabeth Cortez; one grandson, Jason LeSage; his parents, Mariano Cortez and the former Clara Champagne both of Theriot; one sister, Bertie Cortez Brunet and her husband, Russell, Sr., and one step-sister, Mary C. Pazos.             A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Chauvin Funeral Home (5899 Highway 311, Houma, LA 70360) from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday and will reopen at Maria Immacolata Catholic Church  from 9:00 a.m. until service time on Friday.             View the obituary and guestbook online at www.melanconfuneralhome.net.             Melancon Funeral Home of Carencro, 4615 North University Avenue, (337) 896-6366, assisted by Chauvin Funeral Home of Houma is in charge of arrangements.