Michele Patrice Hegwood

Bach once wrote, "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." Michele Patrice Hegwood embodied those words throughout her life. Notes flowed smoothly, passionately from her head through the fingers that served her well as an extension of the beautiful music that played in her mind. But, as T.S. Eliot wrote, "you are the music while the music lasts." The world lost one of its finest pianists, as her brilliant musical ability and lifelong devotion to the Catholic faith, God and everyone lucky enough to cross her path was abruptly ended Saturday, long before its time, when she died at age 62. She now plays for the angels and, like she did for so many others during her life, she will now serve as the music mentor and spiritual guide for so many more in heaven. She enriched the lives of all around her, and brought so much joy, hope, laughter and love for her family and friends her entire life. If you were hungry -- or even if you weren't -- she prepared magnificent meals for you. Her fondness for all God's beautiful creatures was unmatched. If you needed a shoulder to cry on, she gladly and compassionately provided two. If you needed some good advice or simply just to listen, she was always there, unselfishly and unconditionally. The force with which she struck the ivory and black keys of a piano when she played, whether for her parish, piano students or recitals, took your breath away, easily displaying her breadth of passion and love for music. Quite simply, Michele was one of God's most cherished children and one of the world's most adored, loving and caring people, loving and nurturing mother and grandmother, and her family had undying love for her. Michele Patrice Hegwood, 62, of Baton Rouge died Saturday, Oct. 13. She was born Nov. 6, 1950, in McComb, Miss., to William Warren and Frances Guerieri Byrd. She was a member of St. Jude The Apostle Catholic Church in Baton Rouge and served as the pianist for that parish for many years. She was a longtime piano teacher and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Mississippi State University and Master of Arts degree in piano performance from Kansas State University. She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Pat Hegwood of Baton Rouge; three children, Anna Bollinger and husband James of The Woodlands, Texas, and Mia Frances and Nathaniel S. Hegwood of Baton Rouge; two grandchildren, James and Elise Bollinger, with one grandchild due in April; her mother, Frances Byrd of Jonesboro, Ark.; a brother, Warren Byrd and wife Sammye of Odenton, Md.; and one sister, Kimberly Shepherd and husband Peter of Prairie Grove, Ark. She was preceded in death by a son, Clint Hegwood; a sister, Gloria, and her father, William Byrd. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Jude. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Cremation arrangements were with Rabenhorst Funeral Home of Baton Rouge. The family requests that donations and flowers be arranged online through Rabenhorst, reference to Michele Hegwood. For online condolences visitwww.rabenhorst.com." target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.rabenhorst.com. ">www.rabenhorst.com.