Donna Faye Blanchard Hebert passed away in Huntsville, Texas on 28 March 2016. Donna was married to Gayle P. Hebert and would have celebrated 53 years of marriage on April 20, 2016. She is survived by her husband Gayle P. Hebert of Huntsville, Texas, Daughter Michelle Hebert, MD of Huntsville, Texas, Son and daughter-in-Law Darren and Lori Hebert of Brenham, Texas and step-grandson Kevin Dupuy of Washington, DC. She is also survived by her Mother Marie Blanchard of Huntsville, Texas, Brother Randy Blanchard of Port Arthur, Texas, her niece Joyce Bonner and Husband Chad Bonner of Leander, Texas and nephew Matthew Blanchard and wife Jessica Blanchard and their daughters Maddie, Lillie and Izzie of Cedar Park, Texas.

Donna is preceded in death by her father Anthony Blanchard of Port Arthur, Texas and Brother Terry Blanchard of Nederland, Texas.

Donna graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School-Port Arthur, Texas in 1961 (with classmates Jimmie Johnson of Dallas Cowboy fame, and Janis Joplin). While in high school, she played a snare drum in the Red Hussars, an all-female drum-and-bugle corps, and sang in the A Capella Choir. She attended and graduated from Port Arthur Business College (now Lamar-Port Arthur). After graduation, she worked for Gulf Oil Corporation, resigned to raise her children, and later returned to the work force to help her children through college and medical school. Thanks in large part to her efforts, they finished school debt-free. She was secretary at First Christian Church and St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, and retired from Texaco Research in Port Arthur, Texas.

Donna was a life-long active member of the Catholic Church. She was a wonderful homemaker who loved to cook and take care of her family. She was very creative and enjoyed crafts of all kinds including gardening, needlepoint, macramé and toll painting (among many others), always with generally excellent results. She particularly enjoyed sewing, needlepoint and crocheting. She sewed all of her daughter’s clothes and crocheted many afghans and embroidered many canvases which have been enjoyed by family and friends. She actively participated in her children’s school activities, attending every dance recital, baseball game, and performance. She loved to play games of all types, especially bridge. She was a voracious reader of books and solver of crossword puzzles, and passed those loves onto her children.

Donna was a loving, devoted wife, mother, daughter and sister with many close friends who will greatly miss her generous, caring spirit.

The family wishes to thank the many friends, and often-times strangers, who helped in her long 12 year struggle with dementia. Special thanks go to Reverend Fred Valone, Pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church; Mildred Rodriguez, her devoted caregiver for many years; Pat Oliphant and her caregivers, especially Tyera Tubbs; the nurses and staff of St. Joseph Hospice, especially Judy Datskos, RN; Dr. Karl Mahaffey; the staff at The Lexington Center Assisted Living and special friends Beth Evans, Darlene Tubbs and Mary Ann Rohrbach.

A special thank you to Caitlin Ward, James Johnson and Lynn and Dennis Longmire for visiting Donna at home and in the hospital to play guitar and sing her favorite songs. This brought her considerable enjoyment.

Funeral services will be conducted in the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Huntsville, Texas. A rosary followed by visitation will be conducted on Thursday March 31 beginning at 6 pm. A funeral service will be conducted on Friday April 1 at 10 am followed by interment at the Mayes Addition to the Oakwood Cemetery in Huntsville, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, The Huntsville YMCA or the charity of their choice.

Full obituary may be viewed and memorial condolences made to the family at www.shmfh.com.