Colette Darling Villeré - Ford

Colette Darling Villere' Ford, a long-time resident of New Orleans, LA and descendant of the second Governor of Louisiana, Gov. Jacques Philippe Villere', died Sept, 16, 2020 while evacuated to Twin Oaks Nursing Home in Laplace, LA.

"Colie Coo" was a graduate of St. Leo the Great, St. Mary’s Dominican High School and attended Mississippi Southern College (USM) where she was one of the lead Baton Twirlers for the Dixie Darlings. She enjoyed attending church at all of the area Catholic churches and most of all at St. Joseph's in Gretna.

Her first job was sales clerk at Villere's Gift Shop, and Dance Instructor and Baton Twirling teacher at DeVillroi Dance and Gymnastics Studio, owned by her father, in the 1300 block of Canal St. She stayed busy performing at various functions around New Orleans like Toys for Tots and NORD, where she also taught. She won a few gold medals at AAU baton twirling events, danced for a few Junior Philharmonic Society of New Orleans recitals, and performed a routine on the trampoline in front of the Joy Theatre at a movie premiere for "Trapeze". She thought she saw Tony Curtis, one of the stars of the movie, but was too busy performing under her fathers' critical eye. She was in a group that represented New Orleans at a cultural exchange celebration in Cuba organized by Mayor Vic Schiro for which she received the key to the city as a goodwill ambassador for New Orleans. They left Cuba just days before the border was closed by Castro's guerillas.

One of her proudest moments was leading the Dixie Darlings on to the field in Tulane Stadium for a Sugar Bowl half-time show. Later on, her speedy typing skills at Kelly Girls got her jobs with Sen. Michael O’Keefe and Judge Cassibry at the United States District Court, the Amer. Bar Assoc., United Steamship Grain Co., Hibernia National Bank, US Rubber Co., A.B. Dick, at LSUNO where she worked for Dean John Altazan, Texaco Oil, & the Port of Embarkation where she met her future husband. After becoming a military wife and mother, there was a little bit of moving around for a while, but then she brought her husband to New Orleans to settle down. Her sharp eye and artistic ability got her a job as a layout artist at the West Bank Guide. In 1974, her diagnosis of Rheumatoid arthritis forced her to stop so she could focus on her health and children. At that time there was not much in the way of information and medicines without side effects. During this time she signed on to be a polling commissioner for the elections, which turned in to Commissioner-in-Charge (a position she held for approximately 41 years), occasionally judged Baton Twirling events for the AAU, had a stint at Mendola Bros. Printing, was a Customer Service Clerk at DH Holmes, and was the shop busy body answering phones at Diversified Printing where her son worked. She was a member of the Maryland Jaycees while living in Glen Burnie, a volunteer on the board of the Belle Meade Civic Association for many years trying to keep the neighborhood up to par, but her favorite title was that of Tennessee Squire bestowed upon her by Jack Daniels Distillery for writing a glowing letter of praise for their product. She also received a 1 square inch of land in Lynchburg.

She was a caregiver to both of her parents while she herself needed help. In later years she was like the Energizer bunny and kept going and going; to parades, second lines, St. Joseph‘s Altars, Blue Man Group concerts, and anywhere that might take her away from her daily pain. She loved being a grandmother to her five beautiful grandchildren. She didn't mind being pushed around the French Quarter for hours in her wheelchair where she made friends with many of the shop owners. Her son marveled at their patience with her tenacity and loved a lunch of shrimp creole but heaven forbid if they made it spicy. She didn't want to leave until after a dinner of turtle soup with just the right amount of sherry. She was always ecstatic to see her fellow Class of '58 graduates at Dominican reunions and Christmas lunches. She loved doing genealogical research and seeing other family members as often as she could. She always had a keen eye for flowers and quality and was always able to pick the most expensive piece of cut glass crystal on the shelf. She had a mysterious knack for hunting down her children out after curfew way before cellphones thereby never letting them get into serious trouble. Whether or not that was a good thing is still being determined and debated. She never failed to speak up or engage a stranger in conversation and always had a smile. That’s how she was recognized and she left an impression wherever she went up until her last day.

Colette is preceded in death by her parents, Florence Henrietta Fredricka Michon Villere' and Marin Pierre “Peter” Villere' and former husband Thomas Allison Ford Jr.

She is survived by her son Quinn P. Ford (Jeannine), Gretna, LA, and daughters: Florence Hindes (Mark), Gretna, LA and Deirdre “DeeDee” Cenac (Christopher), Sparks, NV.

Brothers: Monty Villere' (Kathy), Denver, CO and Genee Villere' (Sherry), Galveston, TX.

Grandchildren: Bridgette Cenac, Lance Corporal Alexander Hindes, USMC, Nicole Cenac, Abigail Hindes, Allison Cenac, and Bonus Grandchildren Kathleen Cenac and Jonathan Hindes; bonus great-granddaughter Meadow Cenac. Nieces and Nephews: Christine Villere' Bailey (Keith), Michael Villere' (Brandy), Elizabeth Villere', Justin Villere' (Courtney), Aaron Villere' (Sarah); grand-nieces Brielle and Brinley Villere', grand-nephews Reese, Griffin, and Colin Villere', and a host of cousins.

Her children give special thanks to her long-time rheumatologist, Dr. Stephen Derbes (she was his first rheumatology patient) and to the staff at Riverbend Nursing and Rehab in Belle Chasse, LA where she spent the last four years of her life after a fall and successful hip replacement surgery. Everyone at the facility was so nice, she decided to stay. The kitchen supposedly enjoyed her recommendations so much they nicknamed her "Trouble". A moniker she wore proudly while tooling around in her wheelchair and using two canes as ski poles. Her smile and plucky nature will be missed by many.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00pm on Thursday, October 8, 2020 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Belle Chasse. Visitation will begin at 1:00pm. Interment will be in St. Vincent de Paul #2.

Memorials may be made to The Arthritis Foundation.

The service will be live streamed at 2:00 p.m. on 10/8/2020 at the following link: https://youtu.be/ykbWRAxpOv8