Allen Jean Dufour

Allen Jean Dufour passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at the age of 85. He was the beloved husband of 65 years to Jeanne Marie Dufour. Loving father of Robert Jean Dufour (Bonnie) and Rodney Allen Dufour (Maria). Proud grandfather of Lydia Maxine Dufour. Son of the late Murphy Jean Dufour and Flossie Rabalais Dufour. Brother of the late Lawrence Dufour (Carter). He is also survived and fondly remembered by many cousins, relatives and dear friends.

Allen was born in New Orleans, LA and was a longtime resident of St. Bernard Parish before settling in Hammond, LA following hurricane Katrina. He was a man who seemed to know a little about everything and loved sharing his wisdom without ever coming across as arrogant. He had a gift for making connections with people, whether through his humor, his passions or his ability to simply listen. He had undeniable affection for New Orleans, the city’s jazz, culture, and rich history. He enjoyed a wicked sense of dark humor, always knowing just when to deliver it in the right company. His greatest joy was connecting with people — whether keeping in touch with relatives, old friends or making new friends at the local diners in Hammond.

He was a true artist at heart. He loved working with his hands and took pride in the things he built and created. His talent was especially evident in his hand-drawn caricatures, which showcased his unique vision. A voracious reader, he was always discussing the details of his latest book and always packed a few before leaving the house. He had an enduring love for The French Connection and was convinced it was a grave injustice that it only won five Oscars. He was also known for his unapologetic belief that anything “French” was inherently superior. His creativity shone through in his annual neighborhood haunted house on Poplar Street, crafted with copious amounts of Day-Glo spray-painted cardboard, oak tree moss, black lights and a dangerously high level of Silly String. The highlight, however, was always the real skeleton he “borrowed” from the medical center, much to the delight of all the kids. He also wrote, casted, directed, spliced and edited his own silent film remakes on his Super 8 camera, starring the neighborhood kids from old Arabi. Classics like Frankenstein and Tarzan & The Mummy came to life through his lens. He would proudly host neighborhood premieres, projecting his homemade masterpieces on the wall of the garage for all to enjoy.

Professionally, Allen enjoyed a long career as a medical photographer with Tulane Medical Center from the 60s through the 80s. After Hurricane Katrina, he and Jeanne relocated to Hammond, where he spent his later years working at Southeastern. He rediscovered his love for both work and camaraderie, thoroughly enjoying his time with his colleagues. He truly believed that his years at Southeastern were among his happiest.

But above all, Allen loved Jeanne with all his heart. As the years passed, his devotion never wavered - always placing her needs before his own with an unwavering commitment. He wore himself out making sure she was taken care of, showing his love through small acts of kindness and the daily trips to Lee's Diner.

Dad, it’s difficult to capture in a few paragraphs the profound impact you made on our lives. By simply being yourself, you forged a path with grace, humility, love, creativity, laughter and showed us the way to find joy in the simplest of moments. Rest in peace, dad. Our life with you as our father couldn't have been any better than this - our time with you was the most profound blessing we could have ever received.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation to be held at ST. BERNARD MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 701 W. Virtue St., Chalmette, LA on Saturday, February 1st from 11:00AM - 1:00PM, followed by a memorial service in his memory beginning at 1:00PM. He will be laid to eternal rest in a private ceremony in Metairie Cemetery.