Genevieve Bonin Treybig

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 5, 2009 from 6:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. in David Funeral Home, with a rosary being recited at 7:30 P.M. Visitation will continue on Friday from 11:00 A.M. until service time in the funeral home.

A native of Loreauville and a resident of New Iberia for the past 58 years, Mrs. Treybig"wife, mother, and homemaker"fled this earthly world for heaven early on Saturday, January 31, 2009, clutching one of her ever-present rosaries. She departed this life from her own bedroom in the presence of her surviving family after a sudden bout of pneumonia. She was beloved by her children and grandchildren, and will be missed beyond expression. Her family was gifted with her effervescent spirit for almost 96 years, and they feel supremely blessed.

Genevieve received her early and secondary schooling in Loreauville, and later she graduated from Soule Business College in New Orleans. Her mother, Alice, went with her to New Orleans, since they had dear cousins living in the city. Talk about being well-chaperoned!

She met and married Bernhardt H. Treybig, Jr., a Texan and a pioneer in seismic oil exploration, when he moved to the New Iberia area in the search for oil with the Texas Company. They were happily married and devoted to each other for 64 years. Genevieves life was centered on hearth and home, the nurture of her children, and her deep and abiding Catholic faith. In her earlier days, she was active in St. Peters, Mt. Carmel and Catholic High School Mothers Clubs, and serving as a Confraternity of Christian Doctrine teacher with young people for many years.

Genevieve was the very definition of unconditional love, passing the selfless mystery of Gods redemptive love on through the generations in an unbroken chain. At the hem of her skirt her children learned their unique value as human beings and, thereby, how they might give love in turn someday. She was naturally generous, and she followed her heart to childrens charities--orphanages, American Indian and Third World schools, St. Judes Hospital, and every kind of group that feeds poor and hungry children"and to prayerful priests and nuns all over the world.

Genevieve was a spirited, feisty, humorous, warm, and sentimental woman. She loved a good laugh, sometimes even when the laugh was on her. She was loyal to her friends and steadfast in her values forever and ever. For those fortunate enough to really know her, she was a grand and delightful eccentric, a true American original. She had a childlike sense of wonder and innocence preserved in her heart, and she was full of surprises and full of fun.

Survivors include her sons, David L. Treybig and Ben H. Treybig, III, both of New Iberia; daughter, Gloria Ann Boo Treybig Kanwit and husband, Peter of Metairie; and grandchildren, Steven D. Treybig of New Iberia, Catherine Leigh Kanwit of Metairie, and Matthew Harris Kanwit of Athens, GA.

Preceding Mrs. Treybig in death were her parents, Gustav Louis Bonin and Alice Walet Bonin; husband, Bernhardt H. Treybig, Jr.; and sister, Gloria Mary Bonin.

Serving as pallbearers are Steven Treybig, Matthew Kanwit, Peter Kanwit, Andrew Minvielle, Jim McDuff, and George Germany.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to a childrens charity of your choice.

David Funeral Home of New Iberia, 1101 Trotter Street, 369-6336 is in charge of arrangements.