Lena Blanchard Thibodeaux

Lena Blanchard Thibodeaux left peacefully in her home for her Heavenly Home on February 29, 2012. She was born on March 10, 1916 to Daniel and Celimene Blanchard. She was preceded in death by her parents as well as her brothers Aza, Jean, Pierre, Tanzy and sisters Justine Higginbotham, Zula Bellard, Loraine LeJeune, Armanie Bellard and Noamie Labbe.

Lena was married to Elmer Thibodeaux who preceded her in death after sixty years of marriage. Together they farmed the land, ran a tenant farm and then for many years owned and operated Thibodeaux's General Mercantile Grocery in Richard, LA, before returning to life on a small farm raising milk cows, cattle, sheep, goats, chickens, guineas and geese. In 1994, they retired to Lake Charles to live near their children.

Lena was also preceded in death by her infant granddaughter Deidre Matte and son-in-law, D. J. (Doris) Matte.

Lena leaves behind many memories of family gatherings with wonderful meals, especially her chicken "sauce jaune" and her great gumbos ~ especially guinea! Her grandchildren's fondest memories are of living the "country life" on weekends and weeks in the summer.

Left to treasure Lena's life are her sister Alice LeJeune of Richard and brother Tilman Blanchard of Baytown, TX; her sons Lee V. (Kathy) and Charles (Pam) Thibodeaux and daughters Genieve "Geni" Matte and Bernell (Billy) Ezell all of Lake Charles; Grandchildren Barry (Julie) Matte of Covington, LA, Marcus Matte of Westlake, Jennifer Matte of Lake Charles; Dane (Monica) Thibodeaux, Kerri Thibodeaux (David) Courville of Lake Charles; Chad (Ashley) Thibodeaux of Cypress, TX and Daniel (Tina) Thibodeaux of Kingwood, TX, Joel Thibodeaux of Lake Charles; Christie Zahm (Desi) DeMarce of Calgary, Canada, Jean-Paul Zahm of Tampa, Florida, and Natalie Zahm of Lake Charles. Great-grandchildren include Zachary, Logan and Noah, Samantha and Kaitlyn Thibodeaux of Cypress and Kingwood, TX; Bailey and Ty Thibodeaux, Jacob, Karleigh, Adam and Luke Courville of Lake Charles; Sebastien and Parker DeMarce of Calgary, Canada and her great-great grandson, Wyatt Tanner of Covington, LA. She also leaves multiple nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, March 03, 2012 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Monsignor James Gaddy will officiate. Visitation Friday will be at Johnson Funeral Home from 3:00 9:00 PM with a prayer service and rosary beginning at 6:00 PM. Visitation will continue Saturday from 8:00AM until 9:45 AM in the funeral home.

Committal services will be held at St. Edward's Catholic Church Cemetery, 1463 Charlene Highway, Richard (Church Point) with Father

Wayne Duet officiating. Family and friends will gather at the St. Edward's Church Hall following the service.

Mrs. Thibodeaux's family wishes to extend sincere gratitude to Odyssey Hospice, her faithful caregiver Pat Burton, and her Lay Minister Roland Doucet.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lena's honor to The Charlene Richard Fund sent to St Edward's Catholic Church, 1263 Charlene Highway, Church Point, LA 70525.