John ‘Curley’ Delahoussaye

Published 2:00 pm Thursday, August 29, 2013

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, August 31, 2013, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in New Iberia for John “Curley” Delahoussaye, 80, who died Wednesday, August 28, 2013, in New Iberia.

Entombment will follow in Holy Family Cemetery.

The Rev. Mark Derise will be the celebrant.

A gathering of family and friends will be Friday from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. Friday. Visitation will continue Saturday from 8 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.

A native of Vermilion Parish, Mr. Delahoussaye was born on January 19, 1933, and was a longtime resident of Iberia Parish. At the age of 9, he began riding as a horse jockey and retired from horse racing in the late 1960s. During his career, he was ranked as the U.S. Leading Jockey, and won numerous races and derbies, including the Louisiana Derby, the Oklahoma Derby and the Arkansas Derby. He then worked as a crane operator for Diamond M and Dynamic Industries.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia “Dolly” Fremin Delahoussaye, of New Iberia; sons John Delahoussaye Jr. of Gauthier, Miss., and John Grady Delahoussaye of New Iberia; stepsons Carroll W. Guilbeaux and wife, Tracey, of Cade and Todd W. Guilbeaux of New Iberia; sister Murlene Delahoussaye Leitner of New Iberia; grandchildren Kyle Guilbeaux, Shea Guilbeaux Boyd, Kandance Guilbeaux, Todd Guilbeaux Jr., Dylan J. Dore, Carroll Ray Guilbeaux, John Bailey Delahoussaye and Josh Delahoussaye; great-granddaughter Charlie Jane Guilbeaux; godchild Rachel Fremin Freeman; and a special nephew Robert Leitner Jr. of Houston.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dulias and Noeie Robert Delahoussaye; a son Jodi Charles Delahoussaye; sisters Delores Bonin and Barbara Ann Delahoussaye; and a brother Dulias Delahoussaye Jr.

Pallbearers include John Delahoussaye Jr., Grady Delahoussaye, Bobby Leitner, Kyle Guilbeaux, Carroll Ray Guilbeaux, Dylan Dore, Bailey Delahoussaye, Todd Guilbeaux Jr., Carroll W. Guilbeaux and Todd W. Guilbeaux.

To view online obituary, video tribute and sign guestbook, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com.

Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd., New Iberia, LA 70560, 365-3331, is in charge of arrangements.