Mary Sybileen Henshaw

Sybileen O. Henshaw passed away at 3:00 PM, Friday, June 29, 2012 at a local care center.

Siby was born in Lake Charles, LA at St Patrick Hospital. When she was 7 years old, both of her parents passed away and she was then adopted by her Uncle Carl O'Bryan and his wife Connie with whom she was raised mainly in South America, primarily Mexico. She attended The Spanish English Institute in San Luis Potosi and graduated from Saltillense College in Saltillo, both of which are part of the Incarnate Word Nuns schools. After graduation, she attended Lake Charles High school to earn credits needed to go to McNeese State College where she majored in Art and Spanish. She was Greek editor for the Log yearbook, president of the Art Guild, member of the Student Senate, Newman Club and Chi Omega sorority. After earning her degree, she student taught at LaGrange High School then went on to teach Spanish at Barbe High School for approximately 7 years. While at Barbe, she started Los Exploradores, a club to promote the appreciation of Spanish language, customs and culture. She coordinated numerous international trips to Mexico City and surrounding areas to give her students a personal experience of the culture and customs. Upon return, she would use the photos taken and she and the students who attended would share their experience. Teaching was her joy in life and she truly adored doing it. In 1979, at the age of 39, a brain tumor was discovered requiring multiple surgeries. She was unable to return to teaching. She was involved with Junior League of Lake Charles and Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization of women educators dedicated to educational excellence, altruism and world understanding. She was also an active Chi Omega Alumn. In addition to being a very talented artist, she was an avid amateur photographer with a great gift of the eye.

She is survived by her daughter, Molly Henshaw Painter and her husband Bruce; one granddaughter, Sarah Kathryn Painter all of Lake Charles; two sisters, Carolyn O'Bryan Sutton and husband Fletcher of Ruston, and Betty Bird Druckenmiller and husband Bob of Williamsport, PA; six nephews and two nieces; special friends, Candy Hammell Pemberton and Angelina P de Ochoa. She was preceded in death by her parents; Thompson Joseph Bird and Mary O'Bryan Bird; her adopted parents, Carl and Constance O'Bryan; one son, Harold M. Henshaw IV and the Father of her children, H. Marsh "Shmoo" Henshaw.

Her Memorial Mass will be at 2:00 PM Monday July 2, 1012 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church. Reverend Bill Ruskoski will officiate. A gathering of family and friends will be from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM, Monday at Johnson Funeral Home.

Ms. Henshaw donated her body to Medical Science.

The family would like to thank everyone who has assisted in any way over the last 32 years. A special thanks to the staff of Lake Charles Care Center who cared for her for the last 7 years and Odyssey Hospice of Lake Charles.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Louisiana or Hobo Hotel for Cats, P.O. Box 5667, Lake Charles, LA 70606.