Irene Michel

Irene Crochet Michel, 86, a native of Terrebonne Parish and resident of Houma, died at 5:45PM Tuesday, March 18, 2014. She was surrounded by several generations of family members including all nine of her surviving children. Visitation will be from 6-9PM Thursday at Chauvin Funeral Home and from 9AM until funeral time Friday at St. Bernadette Soubirous Catholic Church.   A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11AM Friday with burial in St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No. 2. She is survived by nine children, Michael A. and wife Ann Claire, Victor T. and wife Sheila, Carole M. Prevost and husband Robert, Charles S. and wife Paula, Chris D. and wife Jacqueline, Steve P. and wife Julie, Angelo C. and wife Denise, Gerald J. and wife Himaya, and Martin J. and wife Allison; 5 sisters, Annie Crochet, Cecelia Crochet Chatagnier, Agnes Crochet Babin, Dorothy Crochet Didier, and Frances Crochet Chustz Sellars; 29 grandchildren, and 33 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 67 years, Victor Michel; her parents Clovis and Isabella Crochet; three sisters, Bernice Crochet Curole, Velma Crochet, and Isabella Crochet; three brothers, Clovis Crochet, Jr., Paul Herbert Crochet, and Peter John Crochet; one son Paul Herbert Crochet, Jr.; and three grandchildren. She was an active parishioner of St. Bernadette Soubirous Catholic Church and a member of the Catholic Daughters of America. Religion was at the forefront of her life and highlights of her religious life included receiving Holy Communion from Pope John Paul II during his visit to New Orleans and serving as Associate Editor of Bishop Warren Boudreaux’s book “Memoirs of a Cajun Bishop.” She worked for several years for the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux as a writer and award-winning photographer. She also was a free-lance writer for the Houma Daily Courier and other publications. For decades she contributed the popular column “C’est La Vie” to the Houma Daily Courier, a column enjoyed by many over the years. She was a member of the Terrebonne Historical and Cultural Society, Friends of the Library, and Terrebonne Writers Guild. She was an avid reader as well as a writer. She was also a devoted homemaker. As the mother of ten children, she was awarded “Mother of the Year” honors in 1966 as a tribute to her dedication to family life and child upbringing. The entire family would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Jules Dupont Jr., and Hospice of South Louisiana for their compassion and care given to Irene and her family during their time of need. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to World of Hope, P.O.Box 1779, Gray, LA 70359.