Betty B. Le Blanc

Betty Blackwell Le Blanc, affectionately known as ‘Bitty Betty’ or ‘Bebe’, was a beloved wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend during her incredible 89 years of life. She passed peacefully on Thursday, April 25th 2024.

Betty was born in Duncan, OK to Lenora Aura Blackwell and Willis Blackwell. She graduated from Odessa High School before continuing on to receive her BBA from Texas Tech University where she was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority chapter. After graduating, she forayed into the world of art, real estate, homemaking, and motherhood.

While living in Dallas, Betty was introduced to her beloved husband, James Joseph “Jim” Le Blanc, a New Orleans native, on a blind date. It was love at first sight, and a love that would stand the tests and trials of time. Jim and Betty spent 60 joyous years together, in both sickness and in health. Through the years, Jim and Betty built a wonderful life and brought together an exemplary community of family and friends. Betty was well-known for her exceptional abilities to host exquisitely planned get-togethers, such as the beloved Pig Roasts, Christmas Coffees, Fourth of July parties, Halloween bunco, annual Thanksgivings, family reunions, engagement parties, weddings, and baby showers. It was evident with every gathering that Betty was the epitome of a perfect hostess; warm, attentive, affectionate, and devoted to ensuring that everyone in attendance felt welcome and at home. We will remember Betty for her devotion to taking care of her family, her wisdom, and her occasional, endearing stubbornness. She was a woman of rare caliber; strong, gracious, kind-hearted, and motherly.

Betty possessed an incredible skill for capturing the beauty of southern Louisiana on a canvas. Her children have many fond memories of spending time with her in Pirate’s Alley, playing with one another and chasing pigeons in Jackson Square as Betty sold her paintings. Her art effortlessly seems to invoke feelings of home and comfort while paying homage to the magic of New Orleans.

An explorer at heart, she loved planning travel with her husband and close friends almost as much as the travel itself. When home, she enjoyed tending to her garden and displayed a compassionate commitment to various charities and organizations such as St. Jude Children Research Center, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, DV centers, MD Anderson, with generous and selfless donations. She and her husband

opened their arms and their home many times over the years to those in need. They housed medical students, family members, and their granddaughter while she worked toward her nursing degree.

Betty was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother who was steadfast in her commitment to her family and friends. As the years passed, she tended lovingly to her husband until his passing in 2021. Those who love her, know that it will be right and peaceful for her soul to be reunited with her best friend once again.

Betty is preceded in death by her parents, Willis and Aura Blackwell, her sister Sarah Martin, and her husband, James Joseph Le Blanc. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, James Scott Le Blanc and Carol Baker Le Blanc; her daughter and son-in-law, Jamie Le Blanc Guzzino and Gerald Charles Guzzino; her three grandchildren Gwynneth Layne Le Blanc, Riley Ann Guzzino and James Hunter Le Blanc; her great-granddaughter Georgia Quinn Le Blanc and all of her nieces, nephews, and extended family who loved her.

Betty’s funeral services will be held at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124 on Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 at 10:00 AM, followed by a service at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://www.cff.org/donate__;!!M2D_dUfSiN4E!P4MDRfGViCWl1pW6w5mumCyGaNNVTPQWooH97zbr_7hEmFC2JwiV0QcpzbYPrjAfP-Imzoize4zNksAIBamMBwpRgV-nXyaBFbs$[cff[.]org].