Carlyn Gendron Rome

The oldest child of Elma (Boos) Songy and Clifford P. Gendron, Sr., Carlyn was born on June 16, 1929, on Evergreen Plantation in Edgard, LA. She was an excellent student who completed her education at Dominican College in New Orleans. After graduation she was employed as an executive secretary at The Texas Company for several years. In 1950 she married her devoted husband, Louis, and they resided in the same home in Jefferson for 69 years. During this period Carlyn offered her time and talents to St. Agnes Church parish by serving as president of many organizations, including the Parish Council, Ladies Altar Society, and the St. Agnes School Mothers’ Club. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister, Cub Scout Den mother, and longtime church organist. Carlyn volunteered in the school cafeteria, the annual fair, and played piano for the school variety shows. She was awarded the Order of St. Louis Medallion by Archbishop Hannan for her leadership and dedicated service to the Church, in her parish, and throughout the Archdiocese of New Orleans. She was a devout Catholic with a strong love for and loyalty to her family as demonstrated by her daily prayers, novenas, and lighting candles for special intentions.

Carlyn enjoyed ballroom dancing, sewing, cross-stitch, gardening, and taking cruises. As an accomplished pianist, she brought endless joy to family and friends especially at Christmas. After decades of volunteering, she returned to work as an administrative assistant in the Tribunal office at the Archdiocese of New Orleans and remained there for almost twenty years until retirement. Carlyn was a loving, supportive, and generous person who always put others' needs before her own.

Carlyn was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 72 years, Louis, and her parents; also by her sisters Barbara Gayle Hymel (Lynn), Wanda (Pie) Caire (Roland), Glenda (Bouddy) Gendron, and Vida Jude Gendron; and her brother C.P. Gendron, Jr.

She is survived by a large and loving family of five children, Paula Raymond (Rick), Neal Rome (Mary), Joseph Brent Rome (Joann), Louis L. Rome III (Janet), and Mary Miller (Craig); twelve grandchildren, Dennis Raymond (Kristy), Stephanie Raymond LeBlanc (Robbie), Bridget Raymond Wiederhold (Clark), Veronica Rome Crow (Casey), Eddie Rome, Melinda Rome Clements (Timothy), Jason Rome (Lauren), Jamie Rome Smith (Michael), Louis L. Rome IV (Christi), Renee Rome Davis (Ryan), Mallory Miller Coombs (Timothy), and Carlee Miller (Brandon); twenty-five great grandchildren, Braeden, Emily, and Amelia LeBlanc, Lucy, Grant, and Millie Wiederhold, Josie Raymond, Kevin, Mary Lynn, and Alex Crow, Lilyrose and Barrett Rome, August, Marie, and Emile Clements, Joseph, Sam, and Annie Rome, Mason, Audrey, and Emily Smith, Avery and Brandon Davis, and Jameson and Everly Coombs. Also survived by her sister Dr. Marcia Gaudet (Irby), brother Joseph Ray Gendron (Claire), and sister-in-law Frances Gendron, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the staff and administrators at The Blake at Colonial Club and Passages Hospice, all of whom helped to make Carlyn’s life so much more comfortable.

Please consider having a Mass said in her honor or donating to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday November 20, 2023 in the chapel of Lake Lawn funeral home at noon with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Interment will immediately follow the Mass.