Oh, the ache and tears that come from printing a “closing” date upon a life that was so young, handsome, healthy, and fit, and which spread a deep and wide love, joy, and delight to so many!

But thankfully we “do not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will [raise up] with him those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We are able to give thanks to God for a son who loved as BIG and generously as God Himself does, and for His Church that spread His grace to Stephen through the power of the Sacraments. “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:40)

From his birth, Stephen’s place in this world was as a “battery pack of joy.” He was the perfect oldest brother to his siblings, relating to them with an abundance of love, scattered with just the right balance of pushing their buttons. And even through “typical teenaged turbulence,” parenting him through every stage was nearly effortless and (almost) always a sheer delight. If you were to poll his entire family and body of friends and acquaintances, you would be hard pressed to find any memory of a single complaint. And this is not to lionize Stephen or “make him a saint.” In many respects, Stephen Paul really was “the best of us.” As the firstborn son, grandson, great-grandson, and nephew on all sides of his family, he was doted upon incessantly – from the womb. But rather than being spoiled by such lavish love, he reflected it back to all whom he encountered, and became a veritable magnet of fun and joy. In sum, “The Life of the Party” and “Chill.” “Hakuna Matata.”

It is our fervent prayer that at this very moment he is lifting his heart in praise to the living God with a “YES, LAWD!!” in eternal worship, awaiting us in a place Jesus has prepared for him.

Stephen was preceded in death by great-grandparents: Gene and Mary Ella Jordan Freiss, Jack Oser, Sr., Peter G. Bourgeois, Jr., and Parker and Janice Chauvin Parra; and by paternal grandfather Peter G. Bourgeois, III.

Left to treasure a trove of amazing memories of Stephen’s life are: his parents, Brad and Adrienne Freiss Bourgeois; brothers Nathan and Luke; sisters, Lexie and Molly; grandparents Paul Freiss, Debbie Oser, and Kim & Kimi Walker; great-grandmothers Betty Wilson Bourgeois and Dottie Bertoniere Oser; aunts and uncles Michelle Bourgeois, Rebecca Bourgeois, Chris and Kristen Freiss Hatten, Jay and Stephanie Freiss Williamson, and Gregory and Hannah Woods Bourgeois; dear cousins Jackson, Mauree, Aimée, Gabrielle, Lucy, Vera, Beau, and Herbie; and a host of beloved great aunts and uncles, cousins, and incredible, dear, and fun friends.

Visitation will be held from 3:00 – 6:00 PM, with vigil service and rosary to follow, on Friday, May 8 at Mulhearn Funeral Home on 2308 Sterlington Rd in Monroe. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM on Saturday, May 9 at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Monroe by Father Christopher Decker, and concelebrated by Fr. Thomas Kennedy, Fr. Douglas Martin, Fr. Peter Mangum, Fr. Kelby Tingle, and Fr. Do Minh Vu.

Serving as pallbearers will be Luke Bourgeois, Hayden Barnett, Aaron Bostick, Henry “Hank” Cordell, William Ellender, and Layton Mascagni. Honorary pallbearers are Travis Fuller, Johnny Habisreitinger, Jude Robert, Jadon Roy, and Brendan Woods.

The Bourgeois family would like to give special thanks to the trauma surgical and nursing team at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, led by Drs. Tomas Jacome, Shahrzad Talebinejad, and Charles Bowie.

Memorial contributions can be made in Stephen Bourgeois's name to the Fully Alive Foundation at https://fullyalivenow.org , or to the Rain Will Bring Flowers Foundation at https://www.rainwillbringflowers.org.