Obituary: Mary Holly Ducharme – HPE Faculty Member – June 18, 2016

Obituary for Mary Ducharme

March 22, 1920 – June 18, 2016 

 

Graveside Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Bellevue Cemetery in Opelousas for Mary Holly Ducharme, 96, with Reverend Joseph Daily, Pastor of Ascension Episcopal Church.

Ms. Mary Holly Ducharme was born in Pineville, Louisiana in 1920. After graduating from high school, she attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in physical education. She met and married Robert "Bud" Ducharme, also a physical education major. They began their teaching career in Lawtell, Louisiana at Opelousas High School where they both taught physical education and coached various sports.

Ms. Mary and Bud were both invited to teach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Bud became the Dean of the College of Education and Ms. Mary distinguished herself teaching in the women’s physical education department. In addition to physical education courses, Ms. Mary specialized in First Aid, caring for the elderly and CPR. She also served the university on numerous committees. She was the sponsor of the Kappa Delta Pi, the honorary education society where her leadership inspired many outstanding students to successfully pursue education as a career.

After 40 years in the teaching profession, Ms. Mary retired from ULL and became director of the Heart Foundation and was most active with the Council on Aging in leadership positions.

Ms. Mary and Bud had one daughter Adele Ducharme (deceased). She has two grandchildren Shawn (his wife Jill) and Shannon; also, she has four great-grandchildren.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Ducharme family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements. 

Graveside Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Bellevue Cemetery in Opelousas for Mary Holly Ducharme, 96, with Reverend Joseph Daily, Pastor of Ascension Episcopal Church.

Ms. Mary Holley Ducharme was born in Pineville, Louisiana in 1920. After graduating from high school, she attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in physical education. She met and married Robert "Bud" Ducharme, also a physical education major. They began their teaching career in Lawtell, Louisiana at Opelousas High School where they both taught physical education and coached various sports.

Ms. Mary and Bud were both invited to teach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Bud became the Dean of the College of Education and Ms. Mary distinguished herself teaching in the women’s physical education department. In addition to physical education courses, Ms. Mary specialized in First Aid, caring for the elderly and CPR. She also served the university on numerous committees. She was the sponsor of the Kappa Delta Pi, the honorary education society where her leadership inspired many outstanding students to successfully pursue education as a career.

After 40 years in the teaching profession, Ms. Mary retired from ULL and became director of the Heart Foundation and was most active with the Council on Aging in leadership positions.

Ms. Mary and Bud had one daughter Adele Ducharme (deceased). She has two grandchildren Shawn (his wife Jill) and Shannon; also, she has four great-grandchildren.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Ducharme family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Graveside Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Bellevue Cemetery in Opelousas for Mary Holly Ducharme, 96, with Reverend Joseph Daily, Pastor of Ascension Episcopal Church.

Ms. Mary Holley Ducharme was born in Pineville, Louisiana in 1920. After graduating from high school, she attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now known as the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, majoring in physical education. She met and married Robert "Bud" Ducharme, also a physical education major. They began their teaching career in Lawtell, Louisiana at Opelousas High School where they both taught physical education and coached various sports.

Ms. Mary and Bud were both invited to teach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Bud became the Dean of the College of Education and Ms. Mary distinguished herself teaching in the women’s physical education department. In addition to physical education courses, Ms. Mary specialized in First Aid, caring for the elderly and CPR. She also served the university on numerous committees. She was the sponsor of the Kappa Delta Pi, the honorary education society where her leadership inspired many outstanding students to successfully pursue education as a career.

After 40 years in the teaching profession, Ms. Mary retired from ULL and became director of the Heart Foundation and was most active with the Council on Aging in leadership positions.

Ms. Mary and Bud had one daughter Adele Ducharme (deceased). She has two grandchildren Shawn (his wife Jill) and Shannon; also, she has four great-grandchildren.

Personal condolences may be sent to the Ducharme family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Athletic Network Footnote by Ed Dugas.

It was an honor to serve on the faculty with Mary and Bud Ducharme.  Mary and I were on the HPE faculty and Bud was Dean of the College of Education. Both were highly respected and outstanding educators. Mary encouraged me to become involved in the American Heart Association and through her example, I served as a volunteer for 30 years.