Mary Sunshine Hebert McCowan

Mary Sunshine Hebert McCowan passed away on October 24, 2024, at her home. She was 81. She was born in the old Lady of the Lake Hospital July 4, 1943, the daughter of Estelle “Shine” Hebert and Paul Macarius Hebert. At age 4, Mary moved with her family to Germany, where her father served as a judge at one of the Nuremberg Trials. She resided in Baton Rouge all of her life, except the years she was with her husband at various Army posts.

Mary attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart and Sophie Newcomb College, both in New Orleans, and was a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy and LSU. She was a debutante of The Baton Rouge Assembly and Le Cercle de Bacchus and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.

In May of 1989, Mary started The Advocate’s Coffee with Carol Anne and Mary column, with Carol Anne Blitzer. For 19 years, the two friends covered most of the area’s social events in their popular Sunday column. They never once missed their Tuesday morning Advocate deadline and never once had an argument.

Mary was a member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, La Fiesta, BWB Investment Club, Fais Do Do and Modern Reviewers.

Mary is survived by her husband Charles S. McCowan, Jr.; son, Charles Simon McCowan III and his wife, Autumn Wilty McCowan; daughter Mary-Helene McCowan Mason and her husband, William Brett Mason. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Charles S. “Mac” McCowan, IV., Mary Gail McCowan, Autumn Mathile McCowan, Margaret Emelie McCowan, and Estelle Helene Mason; brother, Paul M. Hebert Jr., and his wife Mary Jane. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Barbara Hebert Magruder.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 12th at Our Lady of Mercy Church at 9AM with services to follow at 10AM conducted by Rev. Cleo Milano. Interment will be at The Garden of Peace and Memorial Columbarium.

The family would like thank Drs. Mitch Hebert, John Marston, Mark Posner and William Gladney; Fathers Jeff Bayhi, Miles Walsh and Cleo Milano; Sisters Helen Cahill and Joan Laplace; and, The Hospice of Baton Rouge, who all provided excellent care for Mary.

For those wishing to make memorials, the family would be grateful for donations to St. Joseph Academy or Dean Paul M. Hebert Scholarship at the LSU Foundation or a charity of your choice.