Carolyn Bourgeois O'Hare

Carolyn Bourgeois Sanders O’Hare was born in New Orleans on July 29, 1937, to Octave Joseph Bourgeois Sr. and Lottie Guillot. She passed away peacefully in her sleep with her husband of thirty-four years at her side on May 22, 2026.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Lester H. Sanders Jr., her twin sister, Marilyn Faust, and her siblings, Charlotte Lyles and Octave J Bourgeois, Jr. She is survived by her husband, J. Michael O’Hare, her son, Christopher L. Sanders, his wife, Kim, grandchildren, Peyton Kohlschmidt (James) and Parker Sanders, stepdaughter, Cheryl O’Hare Bersch Rico, and step-grandchildren, Heather Blanchard, Gretchen Bersch, Sean Bersch and Zachary Guidry.

Following her graduation from Holy Angels Academy, Carolyn attended LSU Baton Rouge for two years where she was a member of Phi Mu Sorority. She was employed by NOPSI/Entergy for ten years before continuing her education at UNO where she earned a bachelor’s degree in education followed by a masters of education. After just a few years of classroom teaching, she was named principal of Jefferson Elementary School for twenty-five years. Carolyn’s interest in technology led her to an IBM pilot program which provided twenty computers loaded with appropriate educational software for kindergarten through fifth grade, which created one of the first elementary school computer labs in Jefferson Parish. Through partnerships with Shell Oil Company and Lockheed Martin she received funds to provide professional computer training for her teaching staff. Success in acquiring other grants made it possible for her to enlarge the computer network and have computers in all the classrooms. These and other efforts through her years with Jefferson Elementary brought significant recognition and many awards to the school.

During their thirty-four years of marriage, Carolyn and Mike enjoyed numerous trips across the country and western Europe. After retiring they spent nearly twenty years weekending at their weekend retreat in Timber Ridge Pass Christian.

Carolyn was an outgoing person who never met a stranger. She was kind, caring, and always ready to lend a hand. Through her work at Jefferson Elementary she inspired generations of students and teachers alike. She will be missed by all who were blessed to know her.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA. Visitation will be held from 10 AM – 12 PM with a funeral Mass to begin at 12 PM. Interment will follow at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.