Burt M. Bujard, MD

Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 9, 2023

Dr. Bujard peacefully passed away on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, at Iberia Medical Center surrounded by his loving family.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 11, 2023, by the Very Reverend William Blanda at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Pellerin Funeral Home in New Iberia. A Rosary will be led by the Men’s Rosary Group at 6:30 p.m. Visitation will resume at 9 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday, December 11, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Entombment will follow in the Holy Family Cemetery in New Iberia. 

Dr. Burt Bujard was born in 1933 in Lafayette, where he was raised until his family moved to New Iberia in 1945. After graduating from St. Peter’s College in New Iberia, he attended college at LSU in Baton Rouge and medical school at the LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans. During medical school he married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Corinne Conrad. By the time he completed his residency in internal medicine they had four children and another on the way.  

In 1962 Dr. Bujard and Corinne made their home in New Iberia, where they welcomed five more children, for a total of nine in their big, beautiful family. Dr. Bujard opened a private practice at that time and devoted himself to thoroughly and unhurriedly treating each patient. After four decades of private practice Dr. Bujard began caring for patients as a hospitalist at Dauterive Hospital, as the medical director of Belle Teche Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and as a physician for two hospice agencies as well as the Iberia Parish Jail. In 2018 he was honored to receive the Medical Director of the Year Award from the Louisiana Nursing Home Association for his service at Belle Teche. After nearly six decades of practicing medicine he retired in 2021.

Dr. Bujard was a man of deep faith who went to Mass daily and served as a Eucharistic minister. He wrote prayers and religious poems, constructed crosses and prayed daily for his family and friends. He annually traveled to Grand Coteau to attend Our Lady of the Oaks Men’s Retreat held on Father’s Day weekend. His deep faith inspired him to found the Allied Christian Soldiers Ministry.

In his younger years he enjoyed playing tennis and raising Thoroughbred racehorses. He also enjoyed golfing, painting and participating in Mardi Gras festivities, including a reign as King of Iberians. One of his greatest joys was dancing, especially with Corinne. He was so well known for his moves on the dance floor that he was gifted a pair of bronze dancing shoes.

As devoted as he was to his medical practice he still made time to be there for his children and grandchildren’s special life events. He was always at the center of the joy and laughter at every gathering he attended. When he wasn’t sharing his humor he was sharing his faith. Upon retirement he made a true effort to visit many of his close friends who were ill or homebound. Even when his health declined, he could still be spotted visiting friends and neighbors on his daily golf cart rounds.

He is survived by his nine children, Sherry Bujard Molbert of New Iberia, Fran Bujard Bice of Lake Charles, Cyndi Bujard Broussard (Mark) of New Iberia, Burt Bujard Jr. of New Iberia, Conrad Bujard (Michele) of Kenner, Lisa Bujard Durand (Jeff) of St. Martinville, Corinne Bujard Rubin of Scottsdale, Arizona, Will Bujard of Youngsville and Marty Bujard of New Iberia; 19 grandchildren, Charlie Molbert, Lucas Molbert, Mandy Meyers, Jeannie Hebert, Megan Barrett, James Bice, Patrick Bice, Kyle Bujard, Lauren Bujard, Natalie Bujard, Melanie Durand, Rebecca Richard, Ryan Durand, Sarah Rubin, Jack Rubin, William Bujard, Brock Bujard, John Bujard and Luke Bujard; 16 great-grandchildren; and his sister Goldie Marie Bujard Cestia.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years Corinne Conrad Bujard; parents Alton and Goldie Bujard; in-laws Wilfred and Olive Landry Conrad; son-in-law Dr. Mark Molbert; grandsons John Thomas Bice and Blake Broussard; granddaughter Hollie Broussard; sister Patsy Dauterive; brother Alton “Toonie” Bujard; and brothers-in-law Wayne Cestia and Dr. Weeks Dauterive.

Pallbearers will be Charlie Molbert, Lucas Molbert, James Bice, Kyle Bujard, Ryan Durand and William Bujard.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mark Broussard, Jeff Durand, Patrick Bice, Jack Rubin, Brock Bujard, John Bujard, Luke Bujard, Dr. Carl Ditch, Dr. Ned Dauterive and Dr. Wayne “Boo” Cestia.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to all the doctors and staff at Iberia Medical Center, as well as their father’s devoted caregivers Mary, Kathy, Linda, Juliette, Angelina, Brenda and Deborah.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to St. Peter’s Catholic Church, P.O. Box 12507, New Iberia, LA 70562; Catholic High School Endowment Fund, 1301 Delassalle Dr., New Iberia, LA 70560; Allied Christian Soldiers, P.O. Box 10705, New Iberia, LA 70562; or the charity of your choice.

Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace, New Iberia, LA 70560, 337-365-3331, is in charge of the arrangements.