Dolores Rose Gendron Champagne Herrmann

Bonjour et bienvenu a l’histoire “Doll.” Josepha Rose Dolores Gendron Champagne Herrmann (more names than Cher) was born March 20, 1925, just past midnight after St Joseph’s Day in Lucy, LA. Her father, George Ulysses Gendron, said, “We must honor St Joseph,” but how they came up with “Josepha” is an interesting question indeed! She was the last child born to Alice Berthelot Gendron. She was a baby when her sister Ruth commented, “She looks so precious—like a doll.” The name stuck for her remaining 97 yrs. Published in the Times-Picayune as a high schooler and graduating Edgard HS as salutatorian, Doll left home at 16 yrs. old to attend SLI in Lafayette, where she spent the years of WWII. She graduated class of ’45 and moved to New Orleans. While working at Touro and Baptist hospitals, she had a chance encounter with Carolyn Champagne, who invited her for dinner at “mother’s house.” Carolyn’s brother, RG, was there and eventually charmed her into breaking her engagement to football star Al LeBlanc. They married and had 4 children: Randall George (1952), Michael Alan (1953), Robert Charles (1958), and Julie Anne (1961). It was all very Norman Rockwell. In 1964, 6 mos. after moving to Lafayette, RG suddenly died. Left all alone with 4 kids in a new place and not knowing anyone, with the exception of Vesta Bourgeois, who was helpful beyond anyone’s imagination. Exhibiting tremendous inner strength, Doll returned to USL to gain a second degree in Education to become a schoolteacher. That way, she could be there when her kids got home from school to fix them snacks. Who would ever even think of that! Even in her final days, 3 o’clock meant coffee time. After her children were finished with college, at a New Year’s Eve dance, she met Ralph L Herrmann. They were married that October, the same weekend that the Saints, LSU, and Tulane all won. What a weekend it was! It was then that she began her ride down easy street. After catering to everyone for most of her life, she was finally on the receiving end of a pampered existence— sleeping late, breakfast in bed, enjoying the pleasures of global travel (dining at the Eiffel Tower, whispering in the Tower of Pisa, riding camels in Egypt at 84 yrs. old), and dancing, dancing, dancing. Doll graced the world with her presence and made everything wonderful for everyone. The story of our beloved Doll continues on in the memories of the hearts and minds of those who knew her—and maybe those who only heard the tales. Amen.

In lieu of champagne and caviar, prayers are most welcome.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday January 18, 2023, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home beginning at 11:00am, followed by a funeral mass at 1:00pm. Interment will follow in Lake Lawn Park and Mausoleum.

To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com