TERREBONNE and LAFOURCHE Parishes, La. OBITUARIY for CHERAMIE, GWENDOLYNN "GWEN" PITRE Submitted by: Louis Lavedan Source: Thibodaux Funeral Home, Thibodaux, La. Died: Tuesday, March 7, 2017 ============================================================================= Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenweb.org/volunteers/copyright.shtml ============================================================================= CHERAMIE, GWENDOLYNN "GWEN" PITRE October 29, 1946 - March 7, 2017 ========== A photo is available for this file. Please go to http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafourche/obits/dateobits/2017/f1703.htm and click on the name of interest. ========== Gwen Cheramie died peacefully in her home on the morning of March 7, 2017, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer and then lung cancer that lasted more than twenty-two years. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 13th at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Co-Cathedral in Thibodaux. Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. until funeral time. A memorial reception for family and friends will take place immediately after the funeral in the Life Center behind the church. Survived by her husband, Roland, son, David and Nicole; daughter Michelle Ingram, and son-in-law Om; grandchildren Alex and Jacob Cheramie and Camille Ingram. Also Gwen is survived by her sister Sandy and sister-in-law Ginny Pitre-Hay. Preceded in death by her parents Lester Pitre, Sr. and Earline Bourgeois Pitre, and brother, Lester Pitre, Jr. Born in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, Gwen grew up in nearby Cut Off and graduated from Larose-Cut Off High School in 1964, then attended Nicholls State University for two years majoring in mathematics. Her collegiate career was temporarily interrupted when she met and married Roland Joseph Cheramie on May 28, 1966. Just ten months ago Gwen & Roland celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary while on a cruise ship in the British Isles. She celebrated her 70th birthday in October. Gwen & Roland began their parental careers with the birth of their son, David, and daughter Michelle. Gwen worked in south Lafourche bank branches as a teller and loan officer while Roland began a long and successful career in telecommunications with the Lafourche Telephone Company. During her tenure in the banking industry, Gwen completed a two year graduate level study program at LSU-Graduate School of Banking of the South. She also received a diploma in Applied Banking from the American Institute of Banking. She attended numerous schools and programs relating to various business disciplines. But, she took the most pride in recently returning to Nicholls to complete a couple of courses that allowed her to receive an NSU Associate Degree. Gwen climbed the ladder of success in banking with Argent Bank. She worked in the south Lafourche and Thibodaux communities rising from a teller, internal auditor, and then to the Senior Vice President and Retail Division Manager. She was especially proud of her accomplishments as Special Projects Manager. From 1998 until her retirement in 2006, she worked as a self-employed insurance and political campaign consultant. During the course of her lifetime, Gwen was involved as a board member, officer, or active participate in numerous clubs and local and state civic organizations. Some of these were Lafourche Republican Women; Leadership Lafourche; American Cancer Society; St. Joseph Catholic Church; Leadership Louisiana; Council for a Better Louisiana (CABL); Special Education District #1; South Louisiana Economic Council (SLEC); South Central Industrial Association (SCIA); and Lafourche First. She was a passionate volunteer leader for Reach To Recovery, a visitation program where breast cancer survivors bring information and hope to newly diagnosed patients. Gwen was actively involved in state and local political campaigns. She was highly sought after for her ideas and counsel. Although small in stature, Gwen Cheramie always stood tall in the face of strong political competition or battles against major corporate interests. Besides being a mother, wife, full-time banker, and community activist, Gwen found time to enjoy her hobbies of gardening, traveling, and volunteering. And she did each with gusto. She became a Master Gardener and once received the Garden of the Month award, Her motor home travels took her to every state in the union except North Dakota which Roland says they were only a couple of miles from on one trip. Gwen loved going to RV rallies and having fun with her Cruisin Cajuns friends. In recent years, Gwen concentrated her traveling to cruises. She went to Hawaii and Alaska; she cruised the Caribbean and Mediterranean; went on a transatlantic cruise to Russia and also cruised the British Isles. Gwen made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and went on a trip to Rome. Throughout her life Gwen was passionate about her family, friends, community and church. A loyal and dedicated Catholic Christian wife and mother, Gwen enjoyed living a full and active life, participating in community activities, helping others, and being a true and faithful friend to all who knew her. Roland Cheramie would like to thank the many friends, medical personnel and members of the religious community who were so helpful offering prayers, food, and support during the past few weeks. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the cancer organization of your choice in Gwen’s name. Thibodaux Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ======================