On December 20, 1934, in the small southern town of Crowley, Louisiana, the sixth and final child to the union of Beulah and Henry Guidry was born, a daughter by the name of Shirley Anne. The Guidry household struggled financially and at the age of three, Shirley and four of her sisters found themselves at the Catholic orphanage of Saint Mary’s in Lafayette, Louisiana.
For Shirley this was the very beginning of her recollection of life, and she spoke only with the greatest affection and highest regard for her childhood experience at St. Mary’s:
"I was three years old when I was taken to Saint Mary’s Orphanage in Lafayette. I have no memories of the event. It was like I was born there into a large family. Gradually, as infants do, I came to recognize my parents. My father was Jules Benjamin Jeanmard, first Bishop of Lafayette, and my mother was Sr. Adelaide.
Later, when I reached the age of reason, I came to realize that they were not my natural parents, but that made no difference. He was the best father any child could have and she was the best mother. I adopted them as my very own.
Bishop and Sr. Adelaide were perfect role models. He was humble, caring and intelligent. She was multi-talented. Her gifts included a beautiful singing voice, piano, dancing and art. From both of them I learned sensitivity to others, caring, fairness appreciation of the arts, and a Spartan work ethic. Memories of them, even after forty years, have not diminished and are alive for me today as much as ever."
In 1949, at her age 15, Bishop Jeanmard arranged for Shirley to attend St. Anthony’s High School in Beaumont, Texas. Her high school friend, Dora Medwedeff, would introduce Shirley to Dora’s brother Marion in 1950. It was love at first sight and on July 2, 1951, Shirley and Marion eloped and were married.
For Shirley, family was her world. Mothering came naturally to her and she modeled for her eight children and four grandchildren the values she learned at St. Mary’s: trust, hard work, self-reliance, empathy and responsibility. Shirley filled her hours at home with music and her lovely singing voice. She was devoted to making each and every Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving magical.
Shirley had a gift for making people feel important and she was loved by many. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, eight children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Special thanks go to Autumn Grove Cottage in Pearland and to Star of Texas Hospice for exemplary compassionate care.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org) or the charity of your choice.
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