Yvonne Hairford Roy, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully at the age of 88 in the early evening hours of Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center.
Yvonne, born on November 21, 1935 in Plaucheville, Louisiana, was the eldest of two daughters born to John and Elphia Hairford. Shortly after marrying her husband and father of her children, Bert Roy, they relocated to St. Mary Parish and began their family. Blessed with four children, Yvonne truly loved being a mother and devoted her early years to raising their children, only going to work outside of the home after they were grown. Her love for children led her to work as a teacher’s aide at Baldwin Elementary School. She then went on to help care for the children at Dottie’s Pre-School, also in Baldwin. Later she worked for her daughter’s catering business, Catering by Countice, a “job” that she deeply enjoyed, working side by side with one of her own. Following her time with her daughter, Yvonne enjoyed the finer things in life, her grandchildren! She welcomed each and every one of her grandchildren into the world with love and adoration. If asked, she’d most likely tell you that being a grandmother was the greatest blessing in life, and what a wonderful “MiMi” she was. She so enjoyed hosting pool parties for all of the grandchildren and especially loved Christmas and Easter family gatherings, starting numerous family traditions that have been and will continue to be carried on in the lives of those she loved. Gardening was a lifelong passion of Yvonne’s. She loved tending to her yard and had an amazing green thumb. Quilting was also a favorite pastime, a skill she learned from her mother. A past member of the Franklin Golden Age Club, Yvonne treasured the year she was crowned queen. She truly loved all of the pomp and circumstance. She also developed a love for dancing, belonging to an informal group of friends who met at different venues for good food, great company, and to dance like there’s no tomorrow. Her spirit was as resilient as the flowers and plants she tended in her garden and as warm as the quilts she carefully crafted.
A faithful parishioner of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Yvonne’s love for her Catholic faith in Christ was unwavering. Proverbs 31:10, 25-28 states, “Who can find a woman of worth? Far beyond jewels is her value. She is clothed with strength and dignity, and laughs at the days to come. She opens her mouth in wisdom; kindly instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband, too, praises her.” Yvonne embodied these words, her actions and words always filled with love and wisdom. Though her passing from this life will be mourned immensely, Sacred Scripture also promises in Psalms 30:6 “At dusk weeping comes for the night; but at dawn there is rejoicing.”
Those she leaves to cherish her beautiful memory include her daughters, Waverly Roy Cunningham (Bill) and Countice Roy LeBlanc (Al); her beloved grandchildren, Lauren Roy Dupuy (Nick), Emily Cunningham Mire (Kent), Rebecca Cunningham Cooper (Tim), Victoria Cunningham Wells (Byron), Adrienne Breaux, Clint Breaux (Destiny), and Mandy Roy Christian; her precious great grandchildren, Noelle and Luc Dupuy, Landry Kate and Anderson Mire, Campbell and Mable Cooper, Caroline Wells, Ellen Bourgeois, Austin Breaux, and Lex, Jentci, and MJ Christian, and Jaymsli Durocher; her longtime friend, companion, and dancing partner, Jerry Savoie; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Bert James Roy; her two sons, Frederick John “Fred” Roy and Shelton James Roy; her parents, John Joseph Hairford and Elphia Ducote Hairford; her sister, Melva Ann Hairford Dupré; and her maternal grandparents whom she deeply loved, Albert Luke Ducote and Melva Hooter Ducote.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed on Monday, September 9th, at Ibert’s Mortuary in Franklin from 11:00 AM until time of dismissal at 1:00 PM. A Rosary service will begin at 11:30 AM. Funeral services will be held during a 1:30 PM Mass of Christian Burial at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Baldwin, with Father Michael DeBlanc as Celebrant. Following the Mass, she will be laid to rest beside her husband and sons in the Sacred Heart Cemetery. Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Al LeBlanc, Bill Cunningham, Clint Breaux, Jerry Savoie, Nick Dupuy, and Kent Mire, with Paul Dupré, Tim Cooper, and Byron Wells serving as honorary pallbearers.
In commemorating Yvonne’s remarkable life, we invite you to share your memories to her memorial page. Each story paints a vivid image of Yvonne’s life, her love for her family, her passions, and her enduring faith. She will be dearly missed, but her spirit will continue to inspire us, and her memory will forever hold a special place in our hearts.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426, www.iberts.com.