Helen "Pug" Derbonne

Helen “Pug” Derbonne died Thursday, January 21 at 8:30 a.m. in her daughter’s residence after a courageous battle with a lengthy illness and complications from COVID-19. 

“PUG”, ninth of the ten children of Theodore and May Young, was born in Elizabeth, LA on June 29^th, 1934 and was raised in Elizabeth, La and Oakdale, La.   She attended Northwestern State University where she earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing in 1956.   She then married her lifelong friend and the love of her life, Enos Ferman Derbonne Jr. , on September 22, 1956 after he returned from the Marines.  They remained married for 51 years until his death in December of 2007. 

They moved to Lake Charles, La after marrying to begin their family and their careers.   Helen became a registered nurse at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital where she worked in Labor and Delivery and enjoyed helping many unwed mothers.  Over the span of her nursing career, she also worked in different departments at St. Patrick’s hospital and the Calcasieu Parish Health Care Unit.    She took 2 years off in 1966 and 1967 to teach her youngest daughter kindergarten at Sale Street Baptist Church.   When she returned to her career, she began teaching nursing to LPN enrollees at Sowela Technical Community College.  She thoroughly enjoyed being an educator and was loved by all of her students.       

Then in the fall of 1975, she changed careers and began helping her husband that became a State Farm Insurance Agent.  She excelled in insurance and immediately took on the role to teach new trainee agents the insurance business as well.   At this time in her life, she was also able to travel the world and see so many exciting places with her husband and their State Farm extended family.  

Helen “Pug” had many hobbies and great pleasures in her life.   She was a godly woman and thoroughly enjoyed studying the bible and attending her church on Sundays and even taught Sunday School.   She also loved playing any type of cards from Bridge to Bouree’ and often played both from groups to family gatherings. She also loved watching sports with her husband and attended too many ballgames to count.  Even when she lived alone, you might catch her watching a track meet on a Saturday or a football game on Sunday.  But her greatest pleasure was spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.   She gave them constant love, wisdom and most valued of all…… her time.       

Left honoring her legacy includes two daughters:  Dixie Derbonne Chapman and husband, Rocky of Kingwood, TX, and De Ann Derbonne Pacheco and husband, Michael of Lake Charles, LA;  three grandchildren: Katherine Chapman Ward and husband, Charley of Kingwood, TX, Robert “Bobby” Chapman and fiancee’, Rebecca White of Metairie, LA, and Spencer Chapman of Beaumont, TX;  two great grandchildren: Owen Ward and Ethan Ward of Kingwood, TX, and one baby girl great grandchild on the way in Beaumont, TX; two sisters: Jackie Ballard of Oakdale, LA and Sarah Stevens Harrison of San Diego, CA.    

She was preceded in death by one daughter: Rose Marie Derbonne; her husband, Enos F. Derbonne, Jr.; three brothers:  Winnard Young, Richard “Dick” Young, and Theodore “Red” Young;  four sisters: Rebecca Windle,  Juanita “Chic” Wesley, Wanda Smith, and Bettye Brooks; and her aforementioned parents. 

The family wishes to give their thanks and appreciation to their 2 cousins (Pug’s nieces) nurse practitioner, Kathy Ballard and Becky Ballard for their expert care, love and help during her time of need. 

Due to Covid-19, she will have a private family funeral at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 30, at St. Luke Simpson United Methodist Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Reverend Dr. John Robert Black will officiate.  Burial will be at Consolata Cemetery.  

Pallbearers will be Rocky Chapman, Michael Pacheco, Charley Ward, Bobby Chapman, Spencer Chapman and Kate Ward.  Honorary pallbearers will be Owen and Ethan Ward.  

Should friends desire in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Luke Simpson United Methodist Church Hurricane Relief Fund at 1500 Country Club Dr., Lake Charles, LA 70605.