Hope C. Dugas

St. Martinville – A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday, October 8, 2017, at St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church for Hope C. Dugas, 79, who passed away on Thursday, October 5, 2017, at her residence surrounded by her loving family.
Visiting hours were observed at Pellerin Funeral Home in St. Martinville from 2 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Sunday and continued on Monday at 7 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. A rosary was prayed at 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Rev. Ed Degeyter officiated at the Funeral Mass. Interment followed at St. Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville.
Hope’s earliest career began as secretary to Secretary of State Wade O. Martin Jr. at the Louisiana State Capital where she befriended actress Donna Douglas (Ellie Mae Clampette). Their friendship extended for many years.
Hope had many talents, including bookkeeper, beautician and seamstress. Early in life she learned to sew and became a very talented and seasoned seamstress which followed her throughout her life. This had become her passion for the rest of her life, which is what most people will remember her for. She put smiles on thousands of faces by creating beautiful and elaborate formals, wedding gowns, bridesmaid dresses and Mardi Gras costumes. She designed, sewed, decorated and embellished numerous costumes for many Mardi Gras Krewes to include: St. Martinville Rotary, Krewe of Andalusia, Krewe of Iberians, Krewe of Teche, Camelot, Versailles, Krewe Des Jeune Amis, Krewe of Attakapas, Mystic Krewe de Louisiane, Krewe of Victoria, Krewe of Oberon, and Washington, D.C. Krewe.
In addition to her many talents, she also was blessed with an amazing green thumb. You could experience that by walking through her yard and seeing her many beautiful fragrant landscaped flowerbeds, each of them bringing her joy each day of her life. Family and friends looked forward to visiting her and seeing all the new blooms that flowered and fragranced her yard.
Hope will be remembered for the many talents she shared throughout our community during her life.
Hope and Huey have been friends since they were young children. Many years later that friendship became stronger and blossomed into a lifelong romance and the rest is history. It’s been 33 years that Hope has been Huey’s Queen, he was the love of her life and so was she. They have spent many years enjoying traveling and spoiling their children, grandkids and great-grandkids. Hope was Huey’s constant companion and best friend to the end.
Family was very important to her and it showed in the love she poured into everything she did, cooking, sewing and her numerous family gatherings. You could always walk in her home and coffee was ready.
She will be greatly missed by her loving family and friends. We never say goodbye, instead we will say see you later.
She is survived by her loving husband, Huey Joseph Dugas Sr.; daughters, Vickie Tenney and husband Randy, Danette LaCoste and husband Dennis, Liz Lasseigne, Stephanie Lasseigne, Renee Gauthier, and Ginger Begnaud and husband Leroy, all of St. Martinville; sons, Scott Lasseigne and wife Mari of Mary Ester, Fla., Huey “Boboy” Dugas Jr. and wife Kaby, and Russell “Beanie” Dugas and wife Lyndy of St. Martinville; sisters, Lorraine Lovas and Claudia “Taudie” Dorsey of St. Martinville, and Therese “Timmie” Rodriquez and husband Cliff of New Iberia; brothers, Charles Chataignier and wife Kathy of Slidell, Clay Chataignier and wife Charlotte of St. Martinville, Ricky Chataignier of Baton Rouge, Carroll Chataignier and wife Stephanie of Broomfield, Colo., and Mike Chataignier and wife Cindy of Many; grandchildren, Jessica Melancon, Danielle LaCoste, Leny Lasseigne, Nikki Lasseigne, Amber Broussard, Megan Hebert, Cain Layton, Jaelyn Hebert, Jael Dugas, Jade Meyers and Ashton Dugas; and great-grandchildren, Bree, Blayze, Briggs, and Blythe Bonin, Luke, Landon and Logan Bienvenu, Myles and Keely Hebert, Dakota, Kristen, Jacob and Gail-Marie Dugas, Joey Meyers, and Amelie and Briegh Begnaud.
She was preceded in death by her father, Charles “Charlie” Chataignier; mother, Therese “Taye” Bienvenu Chataignier; and her sisters, Charlene Chataignier, Edwina “Eddie” Guirard, Gayle Grey and Doris Fournet.
Pallbearers were son Scott Lasseigne, sons-in-law Randy Tenney and Dennis LaCoste, grandson Leny Lasseigne and brothers Mike Chataignier and Carroll Chataignier.
Honorary pallbearers were her brothers Charles Chataignier, Clay Chataignier and Ricky Chataignier, brothers-in-law, Lee Fournet and Butch Dupuis, and close family friend, Harry Guidry.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Michael Cain and Allison Bertrand, NP, and his staff at the Cancer Center of Acadiana, including the Infusion Center nurses, Heart of Hospice and staff, LGMC 6th floor staff, Dr. Kenneth McCarron and staff, and a special thanks to her daughter, Stephanie, for being Moma’s constant companion and caregiver throughout her extended illness.
To Huey, our “Poppee,” thank you for making our mother a queen every day of her life for the last 33 years. There are no words that can express our heartfelt gratitude to Huey, our “Poppee.”
Pellerin Funeral Home of St. Martinville was in charge of arrangements.
To view on-line obituary, sign guestbook and view video tribute, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com.