Mom's Eulogy For Mother
On behalf of my six siblings, I stand before you honored to deliver the eulogy for our mother, Savannah Marie Dorion LeBlanc. The essence of Mom is best understood as it is reflected in her incredible marriage to our father, and in the rearing of her children. To the extent that we are kind, loving and caring people, and to the extent that we have achieved success in life, it is due, in large measure, to her incredibly strong and nurturing maternal instincts, combined with her deep spirituality. Mom was the fourth of 13 children, and was a quiet, and very smart child. Mom’s intelligence caught the attention of one of her teachers who convinced our maternal grandparents, Alfred and Vercy Dorion, better known as PopFred and MomFred, to
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allow Mom to live with her and her family. She stayed with them for nearly a year, until our grandparents decided she needed to be home with her own family. But that experience living with a teacher, although brief, instilled in Mom a deep appreciation for education that would later have a significant impact on me and my siblings. As a teen, Mom moved to Houston in the early 50’s and lived with one of her sisters. While here, she met our father, Wilton LeBlanc, at a church bazaar. A year later, in 1955, the two were married in Scott, Louisiana, and made their home in Houston, at 3925 Lumber Lane, located in a neighborhood just north of historic French Town. They wasted no time starting a family, and in 1956 had their first child – me. As a new wife and mother, Mom dedicated herself to building a family-centered life, and not just with our immediate family, but with the extended LeBlanc family in Trinity Gardens and other parts of Houston, and the Dorion family, whose members mostly lived in Louisiana. As kids, it was always a special occasion when we packed up the pink and white ‘58 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and headed east down I-10 to Lafayette to visit our huge Louisiana family. Mom was always so excited about seeing her family again, and they were just as excited to see her. When we pulled up into our grandparents’ driveway, their kitchen door would immediately fly open, and MomFred would lead the pack of family members pouring out of the house to greet us with hugs and kisses. Mom was a devoted mother and homemaker, basically she was the CEO of 3925. And trust me, the way she could stretch a dollar and make ends meet, had she been recognized for her performance, she would have been listed as a top Fortune 500 company executive. She was also our moral compass, exemplifying how to lead a self-less, giving, God-centered life. We saw how she always put the needs of others above her own. To reinforce the necessity of doing the right thing, Mom would often resort to disciplining us with a switch of our choosing, but it better be long and skinny, to give it that extra sting. If not, you were sent back to the tree to pick another one. Ask Jenny. She tried, and ended up making multiple trips to the back yard for a suitable switch! Mom was a firm believer in education. She insisted on purchasing a set of World Book Encyclopedias to ensure we had what we needed to excel academically – essentially it was the internet of our time. Moreover, she was a familiar face at PTO meetings, and sometimes showed up to our classes unannounced. So why did she show up unannounced? Now for that one, you can ask Stan! Our friends loved being at our home, because Mom treated them as if they were her own children. She nurtured us all with home cooked meals, our favorite being the traditional Sunday meal: Stuffed pork roast, fried chicken, rice dressing, sweet peas, potato salad, and fruit salad, and to top it off, who can forget her famous banana cake? Mom was not materialistic, and definitely did not believe in buying more than what was necessary. Material "things” were not seen as instruments of joy; rather, what mattered to her were experiences and interactions with family and friends, that’s what brought her joy! As an example, one Mother’s Day we decided to purchase Mom a new dining room table. When it was presented to her, tears began to flow, and we of course assumed they were tears of joy. But, Mom being Mom, she was crying not because she was happy, but because she felt the table was excessive. While the table she had might not have been new, she felt it was sufficient and served its purpose, and that she didn’t need or want a new one. It wasn’t until we shared with her how the new table would add value to future family gatherings because of its larger size and additional chairs, and, just as important, that the old table would be given to a family in need, did her frown turn into a smile. For the siblings, Mom was our rock during our college years. You could always count on her to mail a much needed $20-dollar bill. And in a time when there were no e-mails or text messages, and when long-distance phone calls were an expensive option to communicate, Mom would regularly send heartfelt letters and cards. She even mailed cassette tapes to us containing recorded messages from her, Dad and the siblings. She was our biggest cheerleader during times of great success, and a source of comfort and encouragement during moments of difficulty. Anyone who knew Mom and Dad can attest to the fact that they comprised a perfect partnership.
They consistently worked together as a team, whether it was running 3925, or running their restaurant on Almeda Street, LeBlanc’s Sandwich Shoppe, for eight years during the 70s and 80s. Whatever needed to be done to address a problem, they just did it. There was no yelling and screaming, and if there were disagreements they were resolved quietly, out of earshot of the kids. Most important of all, during their almost 55 years of marriage, their love for each other was total, and we all saw it and experienced it. Indeed, Dad was blessed to have such a devoted and caring wife, and he knew it. A devout Catholic, Mom was a very active member of Our Mother of Mercy. She made sure we were baptized, received our first communion, and were confirmed, all right here in this church. Just like MomFred, Mom embraced the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. I often think about the Sunday nights when we would gather as a family to kneel around Mom and Dad’s bed to pray the rosary together. It was how she wanted us to start our week. Mom, being the thoughtful person she was, did something that we are forever grateful for. She blessed each of us with the gift of her voice. Over the course of the last year, she recorded a prayer asking for the protection of each of our families. So we can still enjoy Mom’s voice and pray with and for her daily. This is something that we can pass on to our children, grand-children, and generations to come. It is absolutely
priceless!!!!! A true testament to the impact Mom has had on so many lives is the number and diversity of the people in this church today. In attendance today are people who have traveled from all parts of the United States - New York, Virginia, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, as well as other countries, all to pay their respects to the woman she was. She was not a world leader or other celebrity, who typically have such far-flung people attend their funerals; rather, she was a homemaker and mother. Your presence is a true indication of the impact she had on others outside of the family during her life. Last week, the day before Mom was called to Heaven, I told her at her bedside that I knew she did not want to leave us behind, but I said that she should feel free to join Dad because it is only a matter of time before all of the family will be together again. When that comes, when the last of us are reunited with Mom and Dad, can you imagine the zydeco party we will have?!!! In this time of great sorrow, after the loss of both of our parents, I find that grand reunion comforting. All I can say now is “Thank You, Mom.”
Thank you for being such a loving and devoted wife to Daddy, a superlative nurturing mother, a caring grandmother, a loyal daughter and sister, and a kind aunt. And thank you for teaching us how to live a truly Christian life, not by words, but by your saintly example. God Bless you, Mom, and Thank You for making us the human beings who we are.
allow Mom to live with her and her family. She stayed with them for nearly a year, until our grandparents decided she needed to be home with her own family. But that experience living with a teacher, although brief, instilled in Mom a deep appreciation for education that would later have a significant impact on me and my siblings. As a teen, Mom moved to Houston in the early 50’s and lived with one of her sisters. While here, she met our father, Wilton LeBlanc, at a church bazaar. A year later, in 1955, the two were married in Scott, Louisiana, and made their home in Houston, at 3925 Lumber Lane, located in a neighborhood just north of historic French Town. They wasted no time starting a family, and in 1956 had their first child – me. As a new wife and mother, Mom dedicated herself to building a family-centered life, and not just with our immediate family, but with the extended LeBlanc family in Trinity Gardens and other parts of Houston, and the Dorion family, whose members mostly lived in Louisiana. As kids, it was always a special occasion when we packed up the pink and white ‘58 Oldsmobile Delta 88 and headed east down I-10 to Lafayette to visit our huge Louisiana family. Mom was always so excited about seeing her family again, and they were just as excited to see her. When we pulled up into our grandparents’ driveway, their kitchen door would immediately fly open, and MomFred would lead the pack of family members pouring out of the house to greet us with hugs and kisses. Mom was a devoted mother and homemaker, basically she was the CEO of 3925. And trust me, the way she could stretch a dollar and make ends meet, had she been recognized for her performance, she would have been listed as a top Fortune 500 company executive. She was also our moral compass, exemplifying how to lead a self-less, giving, God-centered life. We saw how she always put the needs of others above her own. To reinforce the necessity of doing the right thing, Mom would often resort to disciplining us with a switch of our choosing, but it better be long and skinny, to give it that extra sting. If not, you were sent back to the tree to pick another one. Ask Jenny. She tried, and ended up making multiple trips to the back yard for a suitable switch! Mom was a firm believer in education. She insisted on purchasing a set of World Book Encyclopedias to ensure we had what we needed to excel academically – essentially it was the internet of our time. Moreover, she was a familiar face at PTO meetings, and sometimes showed up to our classes unannounced. So why did she show up unannounced? Now for that one, you can ask Stan! Our friends loved being at our home, because Mom treated them as if they were her own children. She nurtured us all with home cooked meals, our favorite being the traditional Sunday meal: Stuffed pork roast, fried chicken, rice dressing, sweet peas, potato salad, and fruit salad, and to top it off, who can forget her famous banana cake? Mom was not materialistic, and definitely did not believe in buying more than what was necessary. Material "things” were not seen as instruments of joy; rather, what mattered to her were experiences and interactions with family and friends, that’s what brought her joy! As an example, one Mother’s Day we decided to purchase Mom a new dining room table. When it was presented to her, tears began to flow, and we of course assumed they were tears of joy. But, Mom being Mom, she was crying not because she was happy, but because she felt the table was excessive. While the table she had might not have been new, she felt it was sufficient and served its purpose, and that she didn’t need or want a new one. It wasn’t until we shared with her how the new table would add value to future family gatherings because of its larger size and additional chairs, and, just as important, that the old table would be given to a family in need, did her frown turn into a smile. For the siblings, Mom was our rock during our college years. You could always count on her to mail a much needed $20-dollar bill. And in a time when there were no e-mails or text messages, and when long-distance phone calls were an expensive option to communicate, Mom would regularly send heartfelt letters and cards. She even mailed cassette tapes to us containing recorded messages from her, Dad and the siblings. She was our biggest cheerleader during times of great success, and a source of comfort and encouragement during moments of difficulty. Anyone who knew Mom and Dad can attest to the fact that they comprised a perfect partnership.
They consistently worked together as a team, whether it was running 3925, or running their restaurant on Almeda Street, LeBlanc’s Sandwich Shoppe, for eight years during the 70s and 80s. Whatever needed to be done to address a problem, they just did it. There was no yelling and screaming, and if there were disagreements they were resolved quietly, out of earshot of the kids. Most important of all, during their almost 55 years of marriage, their love for each other was total, and we all saw it and experienced it. Indeed, Dad was blessed to have such a devoted and caring wife, and he knew it. A devout Catholic, Mom was a very active member of Our Mother of Mercy. She made sure we were baptized, received our first communion, and were confirmed, all right here in this church. Just like MomFred, Mom embraced the teachings and practices of the Catholic Church. I often think about the Sunday nights when we would gather as a family to kneel around Mom and Dad’s bed to pray the rosary together. It was how she wanted us to start our week. Mom, being the thoughtful person she was, did something that we are forever grateful for. She blessed each of us with the gift of her voice. Over the course of the last year, she recorded a prayer asking for the protection of each of our families. So we can still enjoy Mom’s voice and pray with and for her daily. This is something that we can pass on to our children, grand-children, and generations to come. It is absolutely
priceless!!!!! A true testament to the impact Mom has had on so many lives is the number and diversity of the people in this church today. In attendance today are people who have traveled from all parts of the United States - New York, Virginia, Chicago, St. Louis, Atlanta, as well as other countries, all to pay their respects to the woman she was. She was not a world leader or other celebrity, who typically have such far-flung people attend their funerals; rather, she was a homemaker and mother. Your presence is a true indication of the impact she had on others outside of the family during her life. Last week, the day before Mom was called to Heaven, I told her at her bedside that I knew she did not want to leave us behind, but I said that she should feel free to join Dad because it is only a matter of time before all of the family will be together again. When that comes, when the last of us are reunited with Mom and Dad, can you imagine the zydeco party we will have?!!! In this time of great sorrow, after the loss of both of our parents, I find that grand reunion comforting. All I can say now is “Thank You, Mom.”
Thank you for being such a loving and devoted wife to Daddy, a superlative nurturing mother, a caring grandmother, a loyal daughter and sister, and a kind aunt. And thank you for teaching us how to live a truly Christian life, not by words, but by your saintly example. God Bless you, Mom, and Thank You for making us the human beings who we are.