Patricia “Patsy” Calhoun of Lake Charles, La., passed peacefully in her home the morning of Saturday, March 11, 2023 surrounded by family. Patsy was known as Mom, Mimi and Grand-Mimi. She was “the portrait of a true Southern lady.” A gracious hostess, and always poised in her character-defining pearls and red lipstick, Patsy was a strongly committed Southern lady, faithful, devoted and loving to her large family and Catholic faith.
Patsy was born on Dec. 22, 1934 in Lake Charles, La., to father, Wilmer Joseph Boudreau (1907, Abbeville – 1998, Lake Charles), and mother, Opal Marie Leblanc Boudreau (1908, Erath – 2000, Lake Charles). She and her older brother Robert “Bobby” Joseph Boudreau (1930, Lake Charles – 2010, Lake Charles) both graduated from Lake Charles High School.
Patsy attended Newcomb College in New Orleans where she studied Elementary Education and joined the Chi Omega sorority. It was there that she met her future husband, Richard “Dick” Wilson Calhoun (1935, Alexandria – 2014, Lake Charles), a Sigma Alpha Epsilon, medical student, and resident of Pediatrics at Tulane University. The couple fell in love and married in 1955. They moved to Lake Charles, where he opened the Children’s Clinic of Southwest Louisiana, and they raised a large, adoring family of five children. Patsy was fiercely loyal to her family, perpetuated the qualities and values that were important to her and kept consistent throughout her life.
She was devoted to Catholicism and served the St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church as a homebound eucharistic minister for the ill. Her body of work in community service included her membership in the Junior League of Lake Charles, where her volunteer work led her to Harbor House for Children and Briscoe Drug Rehabilitation, President and member of the Calcasieu Parish Medical Society Auxiliary, State Board of Louisiana State Medical Auxiliary, and volunteer at the Regina Ceali School.
In addition to her devotion to her family, she found joy in her vibrant social life. She was a founding member of the Krewe of Mystique; and in 1997, and was crowned as “Queen Anna XXV.” She and her husband enjoyed the “Strawberry Club,” a Tulane reunion group. Throughout their lives, the Calhouns and Boudreaus were passionate fans of the sports and academics of Tulane University.
Patsy is survived by her children Richard Wilson Calhoun Jr. (Cindy) of Conroe, Texas, Jennifer Schippel (Donnie) of Columbus, Miss., Pamela Alston (Darrell) of Lake Charles, La., Karen Yoder (Phil) of Lake Charles, La., and Nancy Faulkner (David) of Birmingham, Ala.
Patsy loved her twelve grandchildren: Kelly, Patricia, Kaitlyn, and Richard Calhoun, Holly Harris and Zachary Yoder, Stephen Kyle and Richard Alston, Charles Schippel, and David, Wilson and Elizabeth Faulkner. She was blessed with seven great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank Dr. Susan Ieyoub, Dr. Chris Thompson, Dr. Perkins – Amedisys for their devoted care of Patsy. Special thanks to all the caregivers who took care of her with love, respect and dignity. And our beloved, Ann Dugar, who has been with our family for several generations.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, P.O. Box 4386, Lake Charles, LA 70606, or a charity of one’s choice.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14, 2023 in St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Monsignor Harry Greig and Monsignor Jace Eskind will concelebrate. Visitation will be 9:30 a.m. -11 a.m. at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.