Norris Rader Sr.

Published 6:00 am Wednesday, December 13, 2017

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 13, 2017, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in New Iberia for Norris Perry Rader Sr., 83, who passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2017, at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center in Lafayette.

Interment will follow in the St. Marcellus Cemetery in Rynella. Rev. Mark Derise will be the celebrant.

A gathering of family and friends was held Tuesday from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. A Rosary, led by the Men’s Rosary Group, was recited at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Visitation will continue on Wednesday from 8 a.m. until 9:45 a.m.

A native and lifelong resident of New Iberia, Mr. Rader was born on January 27, 1934, to the late Charles Connell Rader and Ida Mae Hebert Rader. He was a graduate of St. Peter’s College and SLI, now the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and was the owner of Norris Rader Lumber Company. Mr. Rader was very active throughout the community having served on the Iberia Parish School Board for 17 years, a former member of the New Iberia Rotary Club, a member of the Iberia Golf and Country Club, a charter member of the Sugar Oaks Country Club, a charter member and member of the Board of Directors of the Bank of Iberia, served on the Board of Directors of City Bank and Trust and was a member of the advisory committee of the First National Bank. He served on the Board of Directors of the Do-It Best Hardware Corporation and the Southwest Hardware Association. Mr. Rader enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Patsy Marsalis Rader, of New Iberia; sons Norris Perry Rader Jr. and wife Collette of Lafayette, Charles C. Rader and wife Linda of New Iberia and Christopher Patrick Rader and wife Jennie of Lafayette; daughter Patricia Anne Rader of New Iberia; grandchildren Norris Perry Rader III and wife Dr. Allison Rader, Nicholas Paul Rader and wife Shamra, Neil Patrick Rader and fiance’ Rebecca Curry, Natalie St. Claire Rader Dworaczyk and husband Josh, Lauren Elizabeth Barbalich and husband Andrew, Megan Renee Coco, Emma Catherine Caprito Rader, Caroline Taliaferro Rader and Virgina Bennett Rader; great-grandchildren Logan Thomas Rader, Amelia Francis Rader, Abigail Ruth Rader, Anna Claire Frances Rader, Lillian Angelle Rader, Annelise Claire Chambers, William Patrick Rader, Grace St. Claire Dworaczyk, Lucas Peter Barbalich and Josephine Elizabeth Barbalich; step-grandchildren Stacy Marie Blanchard and Liza Lynn Hayes; and his beloved dog “Ace.”

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Virginia Mary Rader; brother Thurston C. Rader; and sisters Verna Lee Day and Helen Elizabeth Gianelloni.

Pallbearers will be Norris Rader Jr., Charles Rader, Christopher Rader, Norris Rader III, Nicholas Rader, Neil Rader and Logan Rader.

Honorary pallbearers include Josh Dworaczyk, Andrew Barbalich, Nolan Theriot, Don Bayard, Calvin Segura and Elverse Trahan.

The family would like to give special thanks to Coty Rideaux, Monique Yelling, Marcel Theriot, Dr. Burt Bujard, Dr. Jan Nugent, Dr. James Falterman Jr., Dr. Jon Leleux, Dr. Joseph Biundo, the staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center and especially his daughter-in-law Linda Rader who was at his side and helped care for him during the past year.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Mount Carmel, PO Box 1160, Lacombe, LA 70445-1160, De La Salle Christian Brothers, 1522 Carmel Drive, Lafayette, LA 70501 or St. Francis Diner, PO Box 9106, New Iberia, LA 70562.

To view online obituary, sign guest book and view video tribute, please go to pellerinfuneralhome.com.

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