A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 31, 2016 at St. Edward Catholic Church in Richard, LA for Rev. Paul Anthony Thibodeaux, 93, who passed away at 11:49 pm on Thursday, August 25 at Consolata Nursing Home in New Iberia. The Most Reverend Michael Jarrell, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Lafayette, will be the Celebrant of the Mass. Burial will take place in St. Edward Cemetery. Fr. Paul was the son of the late Laurent Thibodeaux and the former Emaline Chachere. He is survived by five nephews, Ben J. Wimberley, John B. Wimberley, Glenn Thibodeaux, Charles Wayne "Chief" Thibodeaux, Jr. and Andrew Thibodeaux and five nieces, Anne Thibodeaux, Susan Harvey, Cathy Bargas, Patricia Pitre and Sandy Patin. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Adeline Thibodeaux Wimberley; four brothers, Ford, Lawrence, Wayne and Francis Thibodeaux; two nieces, Paulette Thibodeaux and Elaine Daldard and one nephew, Paul Thibodeaux.Fr. Paul was assigned to several churches in the Diocese of Lafayette as Associate Pastor including St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rayne, St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Gueydan, St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas and St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Abbeville. He was the Pastor of St. Anne Catholic Church in Cow Island, St. John Berchmans Catholic Church in Cankton, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cecilia, St. Joseph Catholic Church in Iota and Our Lady of Prompt Succor Catholic Church in Coteau. He was the Assistant Director of Catholic Rural Life, Confessor for the Divine Sisters of Providence at St. Cecilia School in Broussard, Prosynodal Judge of the Tribunal, a member of the Clergy Council and Clergy Health Panel, Consultor for the Diocese of Lafayette, participated in the last Diocesan Synod and was a member of the Council of Priests. Fr. Paul was known for his great love of people, his sense of humor and a spirit of joy. He was considered the best "raconteur" (teller) of stories about the history of the Diocese of Lafayette; especially interesting and funny stories about his brother priests. The family requests that visiting hours be observed at St. Edward Catholic Church, where his body will lay in repose, on Tuesday, August 30, 2016 from 3:00 pm until 9:00 pm and continue on Wednesday from 8:00 am until the time of services. A rosary will be recited Tuesday evening at 7:00 pm in St. Edward Catholic Church.