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Before Alyssa Ann Zaunbrecher met Joshua Nathan Lowery, she had her heart set on one day walking down the aisle in Luola’s Chapel in Winnebow, North Carolina—the same chapel where Jamie Sullivan (Mandy Moore) and Landon Carter (Shane West) tied the knot in Nicholas Sparks’ romantic drama, A Walk to Remember. An avid admirer of the 2002 film, Alyssa grew up smitten with the picturesque chapel and its surrounding gardens, joking with her closest friends and family that she’d already found her wedding ceremony venue, long before she found her fiancé.
But when Josh, a U.S. Army veteran from Lake Charles, became friends with Alyssa, a Rayne native, through LSU’s MBA program in 2011, it didn’t take long for the pair to begin forming dreams of their own. The first of many came true on Valentine’s Day of this year, on a weekend trip together in Central Texas.
She was sick at the time, but Josh kept convincing her that she needed to go. On Sunday, as they were leaving to head back home, Josh asked if she wanted to take a photo in front of the famous Wedding Oak tree in San Saba, a legendary Indian site that sheltered many marriage services in the early 1900s. As soon as his dad started snapping, he got down on one knee and asked Alyssa to be his wife. Needless to say, Alyssa was overjoyed.
Both knew they wanted their wedding to be a very intimate affair, between just immediate families. And for them, all signs pointed to a destination wedding in West Point, New York -- where Josh had completed his undergraduate studies at the United States Military Academy in 2005. The fact that there was a Catholic chapel on campus made the decision a no-brainer for the two.
Only eight months later, the lovebirds took their Louisiana-based families on a trip of a lifetime to celebrate their becoming husband and wife.
September 29, 2016 kicked off the wedding weekend festivities for the bridal party with a guided cruise of the Hudson River, a tour of Manhattan and the 9/11 Memorial Site, a stroll through Central Park, and lunch in Hell’s Kitchen. The day before the wedding, the guests enjoyed a private guided tour of the West Point Military Academy campus, Josh’s old stomping grounds, and afterwards, father of the groom Danny Lowery hosted a rehearsal dinner for the couple and their guests at the Historic Thayer Hotel’s Hap Arnold Room.
What mattered most to the couple was that it was stress-free and a fun weekend for everyone involved. And it can honestly be said it was.
Josh and Alyssa wed on Saturday, October 1, 2016 in an intimate and religious ceremony celebrated by Father Byron Miller, CEO and President of Liguori Publications in Liguori, Missouri and close friend of the bride’s family, and Father Jeffrey Starkovich, director of vocations for the Diocese of Lake Charles and cousin of the groom. About 20 of the couple’s closest relatives gathered at the Catholic Chapel of the Most Holy Trinity to witness the afternoon nuptials.
Alyssa looked radiant in a beautiful crêpe Mikaella by Paloma Blanca gown with cap sleeves and a chapel train, made even more romantic by her floor-length cathedral veil. What her guests didn’t see, however, was the cloth military name tag of her beloved sewn into the inside of her dress close to her heart—just one of the many unique details of their big day.
As she started walking down the aisle hand-in-hand with her father, Alfred Zaunbrecher, Jr., Purcell’s Trumpet Tune in D played boldly and eloquently in the background, announcing the pivotal entrance and enlivening the space with joyful song. The light pouring in from the church’s stained glass windows illuminated the path to her waiting groom, who was accompanied by his best man and brother, Israel Lowery. In the hand that wasn’t holding onto her father, Alyssa carried a small bouquet of lily of the valley blooms, an amethyst rosary belonging to her great, great grandmother, and the same bridal handkerchief that her paternal grandmother and matron of honor Marceline Zaunbrecher carried on her wedding day 60 years prior.
The bride recalls feeling excited, but not even a little bit nervous. Hands down, her most memorable part for her was the exchanging of wedding vows -- she was ready to become a Lowery.
The ceremony ended on a memorable note with patriotic music performed by bagpiper Kevin Grace as guests congregated outside of the church to congratulate the new Mr. and Mrs. Lowery. While the bride and groom were taking photos on the West Point Campus, the guests met for cocktails at General Patton’s Tavern at the historic Thayer Hotel.
The celebratory dinner to follow was hosted by the bride’s parents, Ann and Alfred Zaunbrecher, Jr., at the West Point Club overlooking the Hudson River, where the newlyweds and their family enjoyed a spread of lobster bisque, Maryland crab cakes, mesclun mix salad, filet mignon topped with gulf shrimp, and wedding cake. Alyssa and Josh asked each of their family members to sign their copy of Rick Atkinson’s The Long Gray Line, which follows the 1966 class of West Point cadets and the women they loved from graduation to the fires of Vietnam, as well as the peace and struggles that followed the war. The book speaks for a generation of American men and women about innocence, patriotism and the price we pay for our dreams—topics that hit close to home for the groom, who served in the armed forces for five years before meeting Alyssa.
Rather than take a honeymoon trip, the couple opted to return to their home in Spring, Texas, where Josh is currently employed by Baker Hughes and Alyssa by Shell Oil, and settle into their first month as a married couple. But the celebration wasn’t over yet, not by a long shot.
Three weeks later, on a warm evening in Lafayette, Mr. and Mrs. Josh Lowery joined together with 150 of their friends and family at Cafe Vermilionville for a night of dinner, drinks, and dancing to commemorate their newlywed status. One of the first things guests saw when they entered the cafe was the couple’s four-tier cake, engraved with a heart on the front to symbolize the oak tree where Josh proposed, and a sculpted LSU tiger, inconspicuously jumping through the back of the cake reminding the couple of their first meeting. Fresh flowers were arranged throughout the venue, most in antique silver containers belonging to Alyssa’s great grandparents. Hundreds of white potted mums were placed throughout the courtyard to add that southern garden feel. Famous local band, Louisiana Red, played popular favorites in the courtyard as guests gathered in conversation, and danced the night away under a blanket of stars. Guests dined on classic Cajun cuisine, including turtle soup with sherry, crawfish beignets, duck confit empanadas, herb crusted filet mignon, pistachio pesto chicken salad on crostini, braised green tartlet of roasted pork and pepper jelly, and shrimp, parmesan and tasso penne pasta.  
Having every single one of their friends and family in the same room together made the couple so happy. That was the most incredible thing—the bringing together of everyone that they love under one roof. There’s only one moment that you possibly get that chance while you’re alive, and taking that all in was very special to them as a couple.”
The charming North Carolina chapel of Alyssa’s youthful dreams may not have made an appearance in her real-life wedding, but the love and joy that Alyssa and Josh shared on that autumn day in New York, and then again at their Lafayette reception several weeks later, was every bit as touching as the unforgettable wedding scene in her favorite Nicholas Sparks film—and, according to those who witnessed the sacrament, a thousand times more meaningful. Let’s just say, it was truly a wedding to remember.
The bride is the daughter of Ann and Alfred Zaunbrecher, Jr. of Rayne. She is the granddaughter of Marceline and Alfred Zaunbrecher, Sr. of Rayne and the late Jane and John H. Golden, Jr. of Crowley.
The groom is the son of Daniel Lowery and the late Donna Lowery of Lake Charles. His grandparents are Helen Hedrich and the late Raymond Reeds of Lake Charles and the late Arthur Lee Lowery and Mae Dell Lowery.

DUSON - A Lafayette man is charged with murder and a 9-1-1 caller is dead after a stabbing  Thursday (Dec. 1) in Duson.
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office was called to a home on La Rue Rhiems just before 1 a.m. Thursday, according to John Mowell of the sheriff’s office.
Deputies said the victim, Troy Adams, 52, made the 9-1-1 call himself, but by the time responders arrived, he had already died from multiple stab wounds.
Duson Police Chief Kip Judice said his department got involved when the sheriff’s office called to say that the suspect in the stabbing may be located at the Miss Mamie’s Casino in Duson.
That was at about 3 a.m.
Duson Police arrested Derrick Vallien, 36, at the truck stop casino and charged him with the second-degree murder of Adams.
Since the truck stop is located in Acadia Parish, Vallien was initially booked into the Acadia Parish Jail then released to the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office.
He is currently incarcerated in the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center.

Marguerite Yvonne Miller, 61, died peacefully on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, in Houston. She is survived by sisters, Beth Wood and husband Mel of Houston and Jane Killen and husband Jim of Baton Rouge; brother, Chuck Miller and wife Meg, also of Baton Rouge; nephews, Eric Wood, and wife Diana of Plano, Texas; Kevin Wood of Brooklyn, New York, and Joshua Miller of Baton Rouge; and niece, Rebecca Gardner and husband James of Baton Rouge. She is also survived by three grand-nephews and two grand-nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Yvonne Miller of Crowley. The family is requesting visitation to be held Saturday, Dec. 10, at Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home in Crowley from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. followed by graveside services at 3 p.m. in Woodlawn Cemetery with Deacon Dan Didier officiating. In lieu of flowers, please honor Marguerite’s memory with a donation to Reach Unlimited of Cypress, Texas, or Louisiana Special Olympics.
Words from Jane Miller Killen, younger sister:
Marguerite Yvonne Miller was born in 1955, a time when a Down Syndrome baby had a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. At the tender age of 3, our parents, under the assistance and guidance of family friend Bishop Maurice Schexnayder, enrolled her in St. Mary’s School in Clarks. Marguerite was lovingly nurtured and instructed by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. In 1973, she left St. Mary’s and became a resident of Pinecrest State School in Pineville. It was here where Marguerite became actively involved in Special Olympics. A fierce competitor, she played T-ball, bowled and ran track for many years, travelling across the state to compete in various tournaments. In later years, she inherited our father’s love of the links and began playing golf. Marguerite was honored to attend a national competition where Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, awarded her with her medal. In her true exuberant fashion, Marguerite hugged Mrs. Shriver so tight, she almost snapped her in half!
Marguerite was the master of making potholders. Many of you were repeat recipients, as she ALWAYS had a stash of freshly loomed potholders on hand to give out! She also enjoyed working jigsaw puzzles, riding her bike, listening to music and singing along enthusiastically.
In 2011, Marguerite moved to Houston to be near Beth. She lived in a group home, operated by Reach Unlimited, with several other developmentally disabled ladies. She enjoyed various tasks at the Learning Activity Center. Both at her home and at the LAC she made many friends. That was so easy for her to do!
In the fall of 2014, Marguerite moved to Silverado Memory Care community, where she received the additional needed care for dementia from the dedicated staff.
Marguerite lived her entire life never knowing the meaning of hate, only unending love for her family and those around her.
Words from Beth Miller Wood, older sister:
I have had the privilege of being Marguerite’s guardian since our mother’s injury in 1993 prevented her from doing so. From then until early 2011, Marguerite continued living at Pinecrest Developmental Center in Pineville, where she was employed in the community and, as Jane explained above, participated in Special Olympics.
After moving to Houston in early 2011, she and I spent even more time together. For the first two years, she fully embraced her new life in Houston at Reach Unlimited. There were always group activities to be enjoyed, dances to attend, programs to sing in, volleyball games to play, etc. However, increasing difficulty with skills, depression and deteriorating verbal skills led to a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s in the summer of 2013. Along with the confusion and loss of skills, came a tremendous of frustration, anxiety and anger. Moving to Silverado in September, 2014, where the staff was trained in addressing Alzheimer’s symptoms medically, made a huge difference in the quality of her life. After a few months, a good balance was achieved where she was much less frustrated. Throughout it all, her outgoing personality persisted. During the last few days of her life, all of the staff shared memories of her that illustrated to me that she truly exemplified the Special Olympics pledge which the athletes always recited prior to a competition: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” We all thought her death was imminent, as she struggled to breathe, in a semi-comatose state. In her manner of sticking with tasks until she mastered them, she trudged forward toward death for an amazing two more days, until she could go no more. At the moment when her brave battle was over, I can imagine that she arrived jubilantly in Heaven, threw up her arms, and announced to Jesus and all the angels and saints, “I here!!!” A blessing to all who knew her, she will be greatly missed.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Geesey-Ferguson Funeral Home of Crowley.

Recognizing the unpredictability of weather in South Louisiana, especially around this time of the year, organizers will stage the December Farmers Market inside the Rayne Civic Center.
This special Christmas-themed event will be held from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and attendees are being invited to bring their kids and/or pets to take “selfies” with Santa (bring your own camera) from 9 a.m. until noon.
There will be no admission fee and organizers report that more than 25 vendors will be on hand offerinc various homemade and hand-crafted items, perfect for Christmas gifts.
Concessions (soft drinks, coffee, hot chocolate, water and chips) will be offered for sale, as will BBQ hamburgers.
The public is invited to share in this final Farmers Market of 2016.