Ethel Pellerin Viator, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at Iberia Medical Center. At her passing, she was 84.

A funeral service honoring the life of Ethel will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 28, 2022, at Evangeline Funeral Home. Fr. James Nguyen, pastor of St. Marcellus Catholic Church will be the celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Marcellus Cemetery.

A gathering of family and friends will be held from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Sunday, with a Rosary at 6 p.m. The funeral home will reopen at 8 am on Monday until time of service.

She was born on May 19, 1937, to the late Balthazar J. and Estelle Hebert Pellerin and was one of eighteen children to that union.

Ethel enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. She was able to enjoy RV camping with her late husband, Johnny. Together they traveled to Canada, Alaska, California and numerous other destinations, including her favorite casino in Mississippi. She was an active member of the New Iberia Lion’s Club and the Pokeno Club.

She will be missed dearly by all who knew her, but her memory and legacy will live on in the hearts and thoughts of all who loved her.

Ethel is survived by her children Christal Messinger, David Messinger and wife Carol, George Messinger, and Mark Messinger and wife Karen; five grandchildren, Kipper Messinger and wife Baleigh, Nathan Messinger and wife Sam, Janie Langley and husband Dale, Sonya Bayard and husband Brannon, and Michael Messinger; fourteen great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and four brothers Joseph “Junior” Pellerin and wife Clarice, James “Jimmy” Pellerin and wife Dana, Johnny Pellerin and wife Eunice and Nolan Pellerin and wife Roberta.

Along with her parents she was preceded in death by her husband John “Johnny” Viator; one great-grandson, Jesse Langley; five sisters, Mary Pellerin, Hazel Pellerin, Roberta Pellerin, Mildred Segura and Odette Segura; and eight brothers, Robert Pellerin, John Leroy Pellerin, Irving J. Pellerin, Daniel Pellerin, Willie Pellerin, Arthur Pellerin, Roy Pellerin and Warren Pellerin.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are Kipper Messinger, Nathan Messinger, Michael Messinger, Hayden Langley, Gage Bayard, Drake Migues and Chris Langley.

Family and friends are encouraged to share their condolences and memories of Ethel by visiting her memorial page at www.evangelinefuneralhome.com.

Evangeline Funeral Homes, Inc. of New Iberia is in charge of arrangements.