Lawrence Merendino, 82, July 7, 2007 after a brief illness. Lawrence was born January 19, 1925 in Beaumont, the son of Frank and Leona Merendino. He was a lifetime resident of Labelle and Beaumont and attended South Park High School. He was in the United States Army serving in World War II. He received a Bronze Star and was also a member of the Jungleers. For over forty years, he was a pipe fitter with Local 195 and he was an avid fisherman and golfer.
He married Lena Cammareri in 1950 and she died in 1981 from breast cancer and his second wife, Sonja Kemp Dawson also died of breast cancer in 2004.
Survivors include his children, Sarah Dunnam Smith and her husband Jim and Larry Merendino, Jr. all of Beaumont; stepdaughter, Candy Nolan and her husband Luther of California; sister, Jean Shivers of Huntsville; grandchildren, Wendy Woosley and her husband Kenny, Bryan Dunnam and his wife Brandi, Wade Merendino, Ryan Merendino, Amber Foster, and J.P. Nolan; and great grandchildren, Jacob and Alyssa Woosley, Lena and Tristen Dunnam, Hailey Wanoreck, and Halle Foster. Lawrence was preceded in death by his brothers, James, Louis, Steve, Morris, Peewee, and Earl; sister, Catherine Choate; and nephew, Sonny Merendino.
Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 10, 2007 at Broussard’s, 505 12th Street, Nederland followed by burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be Bryan Dunnam, Wade Merendino, Ryan Merendino, Jim Smith, Kenny Woosley, Wayne Merendino, and John Tallarita and honorary pallbearers are Elbert Choate, Paul Choate, and Labo Tallarita. A gathering of family and friends will be Monday evening, July 9, 2007 from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. at the mortuary.
