Wendy Eileen (Thibodeaux) Pelloquin, 73, died on March 24, 2024 at 9:30 a.m. in a local care facility following a long battle with cancer.

Wendy was born in Lake Charles, La. on Nov. 7, 1950 to Alfred J. “Fred” and Brenda G. Thibodeaux. Raised in Sulphur, La., she attended Sulphur High School where she was a member of the softball team that claimed the state championship in 1967. She graduated in 1968. Writing in her yearbooks, classmates consistently remembered her as fun-loving, cheerful, good-natured, and kind, all traits that would last the rest of her life. 

Following her graduation from high school, Wendy moved to Lake Charles and briefly attended SOWELA Technical Institute where she took courses in mainframe data entry. Armed with those skills, she began work as a “keypuncher” at Steadman Paper Company, and over the next 25 years, worked in similar capacities at First National Bank, Liquid Air, Magnolia Life Insurance Company, Lake Charles Diesel, and Olin Corp. In 1995, she began work at Greengate Garden Center as a receptionist, and after her computer operating skills were recognized, very quickly became an integral part of the Greengate team. Over the next 23 years, she would assume several other duties at Greengate which included mastering the office computer system, managing schedules, training new employees, and assisting customers both on the phone and in person always with a warm smile and a willingness to go the extra mile. She was passionately dedicated to her work, and until her illness, seldom ever missed a day. As her Greengate family will surely remember, there wasn’t much Wendy couldn’t or wouldn’t do, whether she was asked or not. She loved her work, and considered all those she worked with over the years to be among her closest personal friends.

Wendy was equally dedicated to her family. She married her first husband, Richard Lognion, in 1969 and with him would have two sons, Ryan Wade in 1976 and Matthew Evan in 1987. In 1991, she met Norris “Richard” Pelloquin with whom she would happily spend the next 24 years of her life until his passing in 2015. When they married early in 1992, she gained two stepchildren, Brent Allen and Carrie Amant, both of whom she loved and cherished as if they were her own. Wendy selflessly devoted herself to all of her children and grandchildren, and considered being a mom and “Grammy” to be the defining roles of her life. She never ceased to give endlessly of herself to make a better life for those she raised, knew, and loved, striving always to instill in each of them the same sense of compassion and kindness that were the hallmarks of her own character.

Wendy had a passion for gardening. Her yard and patio were always a stunning testament to her green thumb, she took joy in carefully watering, weeding, and pruning each of her many plants so that they always looked their best. Philodendron, Crotons, Hawaiian Ti, hanging bougainvillea, ferns of all sorts, stunning azalea bushes and most of all her red roses all surrounded her home with as much life and brilliance as one might find in her smile. Just sitting out amongst them all on her back patio, chatting with family and friends brought her joy and peace. 

Never one to sit idle, Wendy was always active, and strove to live a healthy lifestyle. She attended water aerobics classes three times a week at Our Lady Queen of Heaven for some 20 years and as with most places she went made close friendships there that would last her the rest of her life. She loved traveling, dancing, good music, good food, good company, and good times, of which there were many!

Raised in the Episcopalian church, Wendy’s faith was an ever-present part of her life. In her youth, she attended Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Sulphur and for the last 30 years was a dedicated member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lake Charles, where she faithfully served as a member of the Altar Guild. She was a regular at the 5 p.m. service on Sunday evenings – finding in those last few hours of daylight, a peace and serenity that she always felt brought her closer to God. Even in her final months, Wendy remained strong in her faith to the best of her ability, never failed to take weekly communion, and remained ever confident that she would soon see a life free of worry, fear, and strife. 

Wendy is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 23 years, Norris “Richard” Pelloquin, and two sisters, Susan (and husband, John) Daigle of Lake Charles and Angela Thibodeaux of Sulphur. Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Ryan W. Lognion, Matthew E. Lognion and wife, Emily; a step-daughter, Carrie Pelloquin Cary and husband, Chad, all of Lake Charles; a step-son, Brent Pelloquin and wife, Kay of Lafayette; three brothers, Brian Thibodeaux and wife, Madge, and Stuart Thibodeaux all of Sulphur; and David Thibodeaux and wife, Jamie, of Vinton; 10 grandchildren, Abigail, Sophia, Kallie, Libby, Anna, Nora, Caroline, Ava,  David, and Frances; a god-daughter Peyton Davis; and numerous other nieces, nephews, and extended family members all of whom she loved and cherished dearly. 

In the last few years of her life, during which she vigorously fought her illness, Wendy spoke of her passing with much the same grace she carried throughout her life. She felt, as we all do, that her passing was premature, but she spoke of having lived a full life, and she came to accept it in the end with courage and dignity. Above all, she wanted no grief, remorse or regrets, but instead joy, laughter, and love. For those of us who grieve her loss the most—those of us who called her “Mom,” “Wendy,” “Gammy,” “Mawmaw,” “Nanny,” “Aunt Wendy,” “Ms. Wendy…,” a world without her is one impossible to imagine. And so, let us resolve not to live our lives without her; let us continue to share the love she gave, let us strive to devote ourselves as selflessly as she did to faith and family, to dedicate ourselves to hard work, to seize life and stay active, to always look for good in people, to constantly search for the beauty and splendor in the world around us, and to always find the silver-lining no matter how dark the storm. Let us never cease to follow and share her example, and if we succeed in doing so, her loving spirit will remain with us forever to guide and nurture us just as it always has.

Her funeral will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2024 in St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church with Rev. Andrew Christiansen and Rev. Dr. Mitzi George officiating. Burial will follow in Lacassine Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel, located at 4321 Lake Street, Lake Charles, La. Visitation on Thursday will be in St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church from 12 p.m. until the start of the service at 2 p.m.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneral home.net.