BREAUX BRIDGE – A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023, at St. Bernard Catholic Church for Rita Rae Buller Broussard, 87, who passed away at her home on Jan. 27, 2023.
A visitation will take place at the funeral home in Breaux Bridge on Monday from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and will continue Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m..
A rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. on Monday.
The Rev. Blake Dubroc will officiate at the funeral mass. Readers will be Paul Broussard and Dr. Kent Broussard. Gift bearers will be her granddaughters.
Interment will follow at St. Bernard Cemetery No. 2.
Rita Rae Buller Broussard was born April 10, 1935, and was a native of Ville Platte, La. She and her husband, Walter, married in 1958 and resided in Breaux Bridge with their three children, Craig, Richard, and Susan. She graduated from Sacred Heart High School and then went on to graduate from Our Lady of the Lake Nursing Program. Rita practiced as a registered nurse for 40 years. She worked at St. John Infirmary, Gary Memorial Hospital and worked as a surgical scrub nurse and recovery nurse at Lafayette General Hospital.
Rita was involved in her community and her life- long church parish, St. Bernard Catholic Church. She was a member of the USL Horticulture Society, Breaux Bridge Garden Club (which she proudly won garden of the month), Breaux Bridge Housing Authority Board, Teurlings and St. Genevieve Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) member, President of St. Bernard Catholic School PTO, Pink Lady Hospital Auxiliary, Eucharistic Minister for the homebound, participated in Adoration Chapel, and a proud member of the Catholic Daughters for 50 years.
Her favorite pastimes were gardening, sewing, cooking, cheering on LSU Baseball, and doting over her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a master gardener and took great pride in her work. Rita was at her happiest when she was working in her yard on a beautiful sunny day or cooking a big meal for her family. Rita was a dog lover and enjoyed spending time with her furry friend, “Trouble”. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and friend to many. Her family was very dear to her, and she cherished the special moments with them and attended every event for her kids, grandkids, and great grandkids.
Her memory will be forever remembered, and she will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her sons, Dr. R. Craig Broussard (Merle) of Lake Charles and Dr. Richard K. Broussard (Kim) of Lafayette; daughter, Susan Christopher (Dr. Neil Christopher) of Tullahoma, TN; grandchildren, Dr. Tyler Broussard, Catherine Couter (William), Dr. Lindsey Shiver (Grant), Dr. Kent Broussard (Savanna), Colleen Cortez (Peyton), Clay Broussard, Sarah Christopher and Aimee Christopher; great-grandchildren, Weldon Couter, Alice Couter, Rush Broussard and Beckett Broussard; brothers, Jerome Buller (Leona), Dr. Daniel Buller (Claudia) and Charles Buller; sisters-in-law, Alice Schroder, Faye Prejean and Louise Broussard.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Walter Henri Broussard; parents, Allen and Mamie Deville Buller; godchild, Rita Keller; sister-in-law, Linda Buller; and a host of in-laws.
Pallbearers will be Paul Broussard, Dr. Kent Broussard, Clay Broussard, Daniel Buller, Jr., Steve Buller, Peyton Cortez, Grant Shiver and William Couter.
Honorary pallbearers will be Dr. Tyler Broussard, Maurice Broussard, Doug Deville, and Ricky Yongue.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Warren Degatur and her dear friend and neighbor, Ricky Yongue.
Donations can be made in honor of Rita to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital
(https://www.stjude.org/donate/srch/st-
jude-donation.html? sc_dc8700008250195242&sc_cid=kwp&sc_cat=b&amount=x&ds_rl=1290690&ds_rl=1291300&ds_rl=1285465&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIloa8yvTq_AIVZhXUAR23UgXrEAAYASAAEgJs8_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) or to a charity of your choice.

Pellerin Funeral Home (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements.