Mary Melanie Berken

Melanie Berken Funeral services for Mary Melanie Boutte Berken, 55 will be Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Lake Arthur, with Fr. Clyde Thomas officiating. Burial will be in the St. Francis of Assisi Cemetery in Thornwell under the direction of Miguez Funeral Home of Lake Arthur. Visitation will be held, Friday, May 8, 2009 from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. with a rosary at 7:00 p.m. Melanie died at her residence on May 7, 2009 at 8:30 p.m. surrounded by her loved ones. Mrs. Berken was a lifelong resident of Lake Arthur and a graduate of Lake Arthur High School in 1971. She was a graduate of Louisiana Technical College in Jennings and was employed with Dr. Mark E. Clawson for eight years. Melanie had a servants heart and she loved her family and her friends, but especially her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Stephen H. Berken of Lake Arthur, La.; her two sons, Jason Berken and wife, Kayla of Shreveport, LA; Joey Berken and wife Rebecca of Lake Charles, LA; one daughter, Kerri Chiasson and husband Ryan of Jennings, LA; one sister, GayLynn Boutte of Independence, LA and her grandchildren, Stephen R. Berken, Andrew Berken and Katheryne Berken of Shreveport, LA and Kennedi Berken of Lake Charles, LA. Melanie is preceded in death by her father, Julius Boutte, her mother, Jewel B. Boutte and her brother, Greg Boutte. Pallbearers are Juan Broussard, Eric Broussard, Homer Stevens, Tom Andrus, Kevin Berken,and Todd Moses. Honorary pallbearers are Hans Stevens, Clarence Berken, Ken Conner and John Horace Arceneaux. The family would like to express gratitude to all of her caregivers, especially to Dr. and Rachel Clawson.