Mary Rose Roy Broussard

Mary Rose Roy Broussard was born December 3, 1934 in Duson, Louisiana, the first daughter of Clarence Roy and Rosita Leblanc Roy. Her younger sister is Lucille Ransom of Scott, LA. She was fluent in Cajun French and a first generation English speaker.   She went to elementary school in Duson and graduated from Scott High in 1954. She worked after high school as a cashier at the Pat Theater in Lafayette, LA where she met a young soldier on leave for a screening of Quo Vadis and was married to our father Paul Harold Broussard from Abbeville, LA in 1960.

Shortly after getting married, Paul and Rose moved to New Orleans where he got his Master’s Degree at LSU/UNO. They had two children, Michelle Marie Broussard and Rene Paul Broussard. As a family, they went camping throughout the United States and into Mexico, always in pursuit of their passion, rock hunting and making jewelry. Paul and Rose were active members of the Gem & Mineral Society of Louisiana.

After Paul’s death from lung cancer on Valentine’s Day 1993, she was encouraged to volunteer at the New Orleans Museum of Art, where Michelle was the Associate Director of Marketing. Due to her friendly nature and disposition she was offered a full-time position as a cashier at NOMA’s admission desk.  A job that she cherished until she was retired after Hurricane Katrina.  Throughout the years, she also volunteered regularly at Zeitgeist Multi-disciplinary Arts Center, which was founded and directed by her son Rene.

Mary Rose developed age related Macular Degeneration in the early 2000’s, which slowly robbed her of her love of reading and the ability to drive. She was also diagnosed with Alzheimer’s a little over 6 years ago.  Not wanting to be placed in a nursing home, she was cared for at home with the loving care of therapists, aides and nurses from St. Michael’s Home Health and her children.

Her greatest joy and biggest loss with the advent of COVID was the ability to continue attending 4 o’clock Saturday Mass with her group of friends at first St Francis Cabrini Church and then Holy Rosary Church. A devote Catholic, she said the Rosary at least twice a day the waning years of life.

Mary Rose passed away at University Medical Hospital from complications of Alzheimer’s on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 6:43 AM, the day before what would have been her 62nd wedding anniversary.  So we hope she was able to spent it with Paul in heaven.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at 1:30 PM on Saturday, August 13, 2022 in the J. Garic Schoen Chapel of Jacob Schoen & Son, 3827 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119. Rev Jonathan Hemelt from Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church will be the officiant. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM. Interment will immediately follow in Hope Mausoleum, 4841 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA. Dress is casual. Just come. We have reserved the Iberville Room, located upstairs of the funeral home, for food and beverages. Live Music by Matt Lemmler. 

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