She was beautiful.
But certainly not a Southern Belle. No sugar-coating. Blunt. Direct. One of a kind. Outwardly there was a tough shell, but there was a gentle, fascinating soul underneath the armor.
Pauline Hebert of Carencro, LA, passed away October 12, 2022. She was born April 12, 1932, in Cecilia, LA and moved to Lafayette in 1940. Eager to help support her large family, she juggled jobs while still in school: caring for an elderly neighbor, scooping ice cream at Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe and working as a telephone operator for South Central Bell. After high school, she married an airman in the United States Air Force and together they had seven children. It was the 7th child, Kelli, that would change the arc of Pauline's life.
Pauline was told her precious child would not survive because of a rare disorder. For the next 42 years, every decision was made with Kelli's well-being in mind. Faced with supporting the six children still at home after her divorce, her drive kicked in. She found work as a telephone operator, then opened her own answering service within three months. Her determination was most evident when she worked around the clock, often for months-long stretches with little to no sleep. Failure was not an option when her child's life was at stake. She felt like the business was her 8th child and was involved in the daily operations for 18 years.
After she retired, she became interested in organic gardening and exercise. She was so excited with her bountiful produce that she shared it with everyone - often mailing it to her sisters in Texas. She loved a good festival and exuded joy on the dance floor. Tent camping was another pleasure – as long as there was an extension cord for her coffee pot!
Although she will be sadly missed by those who loved her, we take comfort in knowing that she's with her children that predeceased her. The family would like to thank the staff of Plein de Vie for their love and compassion.
Melancon Funeral Home
But certainly not a Southern Belle. No sugar-coating. Blunt. Direct. One of a kind. Outwardly there was a tough shell, but there was a gentle, fascinating soul underneath the armor.
Pauline Hebert of Carencro, LA, passed away October 12, 2022. She was born April 12, 1932, in Cecilia, LA and moved to Lafayette in 1940. Eager to help support her large family, she juggled jobs while still in school: caring for an elderly neighbor, scooping ice cream at Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe and working as a telephone operator for South Central Bell. After high school, she married an airman in the United States Air Force and together they had seven children. It was the 7th child, Kelli, that would change the arc of Pauline's life.
Pauline was told her precious child would not survive because of a rare disorder. For the next 42 years, every decision was made with Kelli's well-being in mind. Faced with supporting the six children still at home after her divorce, her drive kicked in. She found work as a telephone operator, then opened her own answering service within three months. Her determination was most evident when she worked around the clock, often for months-long stretches with little to no sleep. Failure was not an option when her child's life was at stake. She felt like the business was her 8th child and was involved in the daily operations for 18 years.
After she retired, she became interested in organic gardening and exercise. She was so excited with her bountiful produce that she shared it with everyone - often mailing it to her sisters in Texas. She loved a good festival and exuded joy on the dance floor. Tent camping was another pleasure – as long as there was an extension cord for her coffee pot!
Although she will be sadly missed by those who loved her, we take comfort in knowing that she's with her children that predeceased her. The family would like to thank the staff of Plein de Vie for their love and compassion.
Melancon Funeral Home
She was beautiful.
But certainly not a Southern Belle. No sugar-coating. Blunt. Direct. One of a kind. Outwardly there was a tough shell, but there was a gentle, fascinating soul underneath the armor.
Pauline Hebert of Carencro, LA, passed away October 12, 2022. She was born April 12, 1932, in Cecilia, LA and moved to Lafayette in 1940. Eager to help support her large family, she juggled jobs while still in school: caring for an elderly neighbor, scooping ice cream at Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe and working as a telephone operator for South Central Bell. After high school, she married an airman in the United States Air Force and together they had seven children. It was the 7th child, Kelli, that would change the arc of Pauline's life.
Pauline was told her precious child would not survive because of a rare disorder. For the next 42 years, every decision was made with Kelli's well-being in mind. Faced with supporting the six children still at home after her divorce, her drive kicked in. She found work as a telephone operator, then opened her own answering service within three months. Her determination was most evident when she worked around the clock, often for months-long stretches with little to no sleep. Failure was not an option when her child's life was at stake. She felt like the business was her 8th child and was involved in the daily operations for 18 years.
After she retired, she became interested in organic gardening and exercise. She was so excited with her bountiful produce that she shared it with everyone - often mailing it to her sisters in Texas. She loved a good festival and exuded joy on the dance floor. Tent camping was another pleasure – as long as there was an extension cord for her coffee pot!
Although she will be sadly missed by those who loved her, we take comfort in knowing that she's with her children that predeceased her. The family would like to thank the staff of Plein de Vie for their love and compassion.
Melancon Funeral Home
But certainly not a Southern Belle. No sugar-coating. Blunt. Direct. One of a kind. Outwardly there was a tough shell, but there was a gentle, fascinating soul underneath the armor.
Pauline Hebert of Carencro, LA, passed away October 12, 2022. She was born April 12, 1932, in Cecilia, LA and moved to Lafayette in 1940. Eager to help support her large family, she juggled jobs while still in school: caring for an elderly neighbor, scooping ice cream at Borden's Ice Cream Shoppe and working as a telephone operator for South Central Bell. After high school, she married an airman in the United States Air Force and together they had seven children. It was the 7th child, Kelli, that would change the arc of Pauline's life.
Pauline was told her precious child would not survive because of a rare disorder. For the next 42 years, every decision was made with Kelli's well-being in mind. Faced with supporting the six children still at home after her divorce, her drive kicked in. She found work as a telephone operator, then opened her own answering service within three months. Her determination was most evident when she worked around the clock, often for months-long stretches with little to no sleep. Failure was not an option when her child's life was at stake. She felt like the business was her 8th child and was involved in the daily operations for 18 years.
After she retired, she became interested in organic gardening and exercise. She was so excited with her bountiful produce that she shared it with everyone - often mailing it to her sisters in Texas. She loved a good festival and exuded joy on the dance floor. Tent camping was another pleasure – as long as there was an extension cord for her coffee pot!
Although she will be sadly missed by those who loved her, we take comfort in knowing that she's with her children that predeceased her. The family would like to thank the staff of Plein de Vie for their love and compassion.
Melancon Funeral Home
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