Winnie Agnes McLaughlin

"I'm standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty and strength. I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like of speck of white cloud just where the sea and sky come to mingle with each other. Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone." Gone where? Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in mast, hull and spar as she was when she left my side. And, she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port. Her diminished size is in me -- not in her. And, just at the moment when someone says, "There, she is gone," there are other eyes watching her coming and other voices ready to take up the glad shout, "Here she comes!" And that is dying... (Henry Van Dyke)

Winnie Agnes Poirier Buhler McLaughlin, born April 2, 1928, the most loving and caring mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed peacefully into her Lord's arms and went to her eternal home on January 7, 2016, surrounded by her family in her home. Winnie was a native of Baton Rouge where she attended Sacred Heart and St. Joseph's Academy, where she graduated in 1945 with the highest grade point and was awarded 2 Scholarships. She attended Baton Rouge Business College and worked a Secretary for 25 years. She was a member of St. Patrick Parish, and former member of St. Charles until it was closed.. She enjoyed being involved in several church organizations and was a member of Catholic Daughters, Altar Society, Bereavement Committee, and collection tabulator.

Winnie was the seventh of eight children born to Allen Adam Poirier and Winnie Agnes McLaughlin Poirier. She was preceded in death by husband Kenneth Buhler, Sr. and George McLaughlin, Jr., sisters Irma P. Verbois, Dorothy P. Buhler,. Muryl Lee P. Buhler, Eugie P. Rachal, brothers, Allen A. Poirier, Milton Poirier, Camille Poirier, son-in-law Paul Baronne, and grandaughter, Kimberly Stagg.

She is survived by son Kenneth Buhler, Jr., and wife Joan; Charlotte B. Baronne; Karen B. Stagg and son-in-law Kenneth Stagg; granddaughters Gina Baronne, Katelin Stagg and Kimberly Buhler Hall, grandsons, Kevin Baronne, , Kenneth Stagg, and Kris Stagg and great grandchildren, Nicholas and Brailey Stagg, and John, Aaron, Adam and Katherine Hall.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 14, 2016, from 5-9pm at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd. Visitation will continue Friday morning from 9-11am at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 12424 Brogdon Lane, with the funeral mass celebrated at 11:00 with Fr. Matt Dupre'. Burial will take place at Roselawn Cemetary.

The family would like to send a special thank you to Winnie's special caregivers, Geraldine Sharper, Stephanie Fleniken and Kris Stagg. Without their excellent care, Mom would not have been able to stay at her home as she wished.

Pall bearers will be Kenny Stagg, Kenneth Stagg, Kris Stagg, Curtis Jones, Bobby Rachal, Jeff Granier, and honorary Kevin Baronne. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her favorite charities; St. Jude Children's Hospital, Baton Rouge Food Bank and St. Joseph Hospice.