Emile St. Romain

Bayou Blue Middle School opens its doors to students
January 5, 2007
Bayou Blue Middle School opens its doors to students
January 9, 2007
Bayou Blue Middle School opens its doors to students
January 5, 2007
Bayou Blue Middle School opens its doors to students
January 9, 2007

(Posted Jan. 5, 2007)


A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away at his home on St. Peter Street Friday, January 5, 2007. Ernest, as he was known, was 95 years old and was in remarkable health until last year when a series of illnesses just took their toll on him. He lived a great life and loved life to the fullest. He was the strong, silent type of man who was always ready to help family as well as friends.

Ernest was born in Plaucheville on March 15, 1911. Shortly after that his family relocated to New Orleans, LA. for several years. Then, they relocated again to Avoilles Parish, LA. They were there for the devastating flood of 1927 and lost everything. They then moved back to New Orleans. Ernest came to Houma, LA. in the early 1930’s and worked as a mechanic on inland boats. In the 1940’s he had St. Romain’s Plumbing and ran galvanized pipe for natural gas in many homes during that era. He also was an accomplished carpenter. There was little that he couldn’t do. He is most remembered by Houma residents as the Electrolux Vacuum Cleaner man. He sold and repaired Electrolux vacuums for decades.


He met his first loving wife, Pearl Lirette, of 45 years in Little Caillou, LA. They had four children, and he is survived by three, including two daughters, Emilie Morales and long time companion, Paul Weyl, and Nelva and husband, Tommy Daigle; and one son, Martin St. Romain and wife, Linda.


He was preceded in death by one daughter, Faye Webre. Pearl died in 1982. He also is survived by numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He will be greatly missed by his family, neighbors and friends as he was so close to all of them and was affectionately called PaPa by most.

He is survived by his loving and caring wife of 15 years, Lucy Chataliner Toups; and her children, Nancy Capps, Nellie Brashear, John “T-Boy” Toups, Richard and Russel Toups, Bonnie and husband, Jerry Craft, Katie and husband, Ken Parisean, and Rachel and husband, Johnny Roussell. They all loved him as a dad and were by his side till his death. Lucy and Ernest were a wonderful loving couple and took care of each other on a daily basis. They always had a smile and a good story to tell. He will be dearly missed by the Toups family and their dear friends.


Ernest was a devout Catholic for many years and was a member of the Knights of Columbus for decades. However, when he and Lucy were married he felt more comfortable with her church. They were members of the Assembly of God Church on Howard Avenue. At one time, Ernest sang in the church choir.

Ernest was the last survivor of his family. He is preceded in death by his parents, Martin Eugene St. Romain and Irma Saucier St. Romain; two brothers, Lloyd and Durwood; five sisters, Nettie Lemoine, Ola Coco, Effie Easling, Rosina Marcelle and Sedonia Badeaux. Locally, he also is survived by sister Rosina’s daughter Irma and husband, Buddy Marcello.

Ernest barely escaped death at the age of 5. In fact, he was pronounced dead. On his first day of school in New Orleans, while getting dressed in front of the fireplace, the iron arm supporting a pot of boiling water broke loose from its mounting. The large pot crashing to the old wooden floor, the boiling water drenched Ernest and at the time was thought to have scalded him to death. He was wrapped in a sheet and brought to his bed leaving his scalded flesh embedded in the floor. He laid there lifeless as his mother awaited the local doctor. The doctor came, and said there was nothing that he could do, and pronounced him dead.

Funerals back them came quick as there was no embalming. Two things saved him from buried alive that day. His mother insisted that his final services include a Catholic Mass and the next Mass was at 7 a.m. the next morning. The second thing was that a child’s coffin would have to be built. As he laid in bed lifeless, he was hanging on to life. Later that night, when the doctor and priest came over to do a final blessing and console the family, they prayed over Ernest. He then began to moan, for he was not dead but in deep shock, something they didn’t know about in 1916. A blessed man he was and a long and blessed life he lived.

Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to funeral time Monday at Chauvin Funeral Home. Religious services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home chapel, with burial in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No. 2.

Chauvin Funeral Home will be in charge of the arrangements.

Click Here to extend online condolenses at www.chauvinfuneralhome.com