Funeral services will be held Monday in New Iberia for Lucille Fremin Babineaux, the mother of late Governor—and Lt. Governor–Kathleen Blanco. Babineaux died Monday, September 19th at the age of 102. Monique Boulet is Blanco’s daughter and Babineaux’s granddaughter.
“I think about my children and how lucky they are because they were loved by really great ladies. Very different ladies, but very very great ladies,” Boulet said.
Babineaux was a matriarch to a family of 105 people. Boulet says she was sharp as a whip and active until just three weeks before her death. She insisted on hosting family holidays and she always wanted her family to be together for her birthday because she wanted the generations to know each other
“She knew things would change when she wasn’t here so as long as she was here the babies of the family were going to know each other, they were going to interact, they were going to play in the yard, they were going to have holiday meals together,” Boulet recalled.
Blanco died in 2019 at the age of 76 of cancer. Boulet says her grandmother took care of her daughter right up until the end.
“Mamma’s death was tough on her. It was really tough, but she was there to keep us all together and keep going. Life keeps going,” Boulet says.
Babineaux and her late husband, Louis, raised seven children and ran a flooring company, The Home Rug Cleaning and Flooring Company, which they founded in 1945.
From the obituary:
Lucille, a devoted mother and faith-filled Catholic, volunteered at Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church in Coteau. She was an exceptional seamstress and an outstanding cook who graciously extended hospitality and provided meals to the priests. In 1956, the family and business moved to New Iberia.
Affectionately known as MaMaw to her family, Lucille was especially grateful for the kindness and time spent with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She loved her nieces and nephews as her own and enjoyed many friendships across the great State of Louisiana and our country.
Lucille is survived by children, Kenneth J Babineaux (Linda), Baron P Babineaux (Karen), and Erroll C Babineaux (Suzanne), all of New Iberia, Yvette Babineaux of Lafayette and Priscilla Babineaux Cadwell (John) of Richland, WA, as well as son-in-law, Raymond S Blanco of Lafayette.
Additionally, she is survived by grandchildren, Karmen Blanco Hartfield, Raymond “Ray” Blanco Jr, Monique Blanco Boulet, Nicole Blanco George, Kathleen (Pilar) Blanco Eble, William (Billy) Babineaux, Kenneth (Jamie) Babineaux, Jr, Kimberly Labiche Powell, Cherie Babineaux Bailey, Baron Babineaux Jr, Beryl Babineaux Broussard, Bart Babineaux, Camille Cox Renard, John William Cox IV, Jeffrey Cox, John Cadwell, Jr, Marie-Elise Cadwell Meyer, Cherami Cadwell Freeman, Jay Cadwell, James (Brandon) Cadwell, Erroll (Charlie) Babineaux, Jr., Elise Faucheaux, and an additional 36 great grandchildren.,
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, Sentney and Ella Fremin; her husband, Louis; her siblings, Rosa Mae Romero and Sidney Fremin; her daughter, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (former Governor of Louisiana); son L. Louis Babineaux Jr.; granddaughter, Patricia Lucille Babineaux; grandson, Benedict Blanco and great grandson, Cameron Bailey.
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