Mary Claire Theriot Wadenpfuhl grew up in Covington, Louisiana. Her father, Stanley was a pharmacist. He and his brother, Percy, owned City Drug and her mother was a stay-at-home mom. Mary Claire attended St. Scholastica Academy and maintained many friendships established there throughout her lifetime. She especially enjoyed her studies of piano and art. Mary Claire worked part time at City Drug and after high school graduation; she worked for two years at St. Tammany Parrish Court House to help pay her college expenses. Mary Claire attended Southeastern State University in Hammond and received her degree in Home Economics. It was there that she met Ray Wadenpfuhl who had been dating her college roommate. She had been dating Ray’s roommate and the mutual attraction led to their marriage in June of 1952.

Her early married life was in Covington where she taught Home Economics at St. Scholastica and her husband, Ray, taught high school band at Covington High School. She also taught science in Madisonville. Their first child, Ray, Jr., “Chip”, was born a year after their wedding and Mary Claire balanced motherhood and career before it was fashionable to do so. Her daughter, Linda Claire was born five years later. The family followed Ray to Mississippi to work on his Master’s Degree and afterwards, they moved to Orange, Texas. After ten years in Orange, the family moved to Beaumont where Mary Claire became an active fixture in education circles and church groups.

Mary Claire successfully worked as the Director of the Trinity Day School for several years. After receiving Texas teacher certification from Lamar University, she decided to teach kindergarten in Beaumont. Mary Claire maintained many friendships from her work at Trinity and at several of the elementary campuses in Beaumont. She kept many photos and letters from parents and students expressing their love and respect for Mrs. Wadenpfuhl. She kept in touch with many students until her passing.

Mary Claire retired from teaching in 1989 and began a busy life in retirement with Ray.  Her social calendar was always full. She served as a docent at the Beaumont Art Museum for several years and was a season ticket holder for the Beaumont Symphony and continued to attend music events at Lamar. She was active in the Orchid Society, the Travel and Leisure Club the 49+ Club and Delta Kappa Gamma teaching professionals’ organization. Mary Claire has held officer positions in all of these groups. She has served in many positions at St. Anne Church. Mary Claire sang in choir for many years, served in the St. Anne Ladies’ Group and in the St. Anne Adult Group. She served with Adoration, cleaned the Purificators, regularly served as a lector, and helped prepare and organize meals for families and individuals in need. In 2006, she served on the Board of Directors for Some Other Place Ecumenical Mission.

Mary Claire’s retirement was not all work, although there are few individuals who serve others as she has. Mary and her husband were able to travel to many places around the world. Her love of adventure carried them to Hawaii, Europe, Canada, and all over the United States. Many of the trips included visits to childhood friends and family. Her last overseas trip was at age 82 when she travelled to Sydney, Australia, for her grandson’s wedding. She thoroughly enjoyed meeting her new Australian family. In April, she made a very memorable trip with her three sisters. This was the only trip that the “girls” had made together without their husbands. They went to visit Mary Claire’s daughter, Linda, in Austin, and all have great memories of sightseeing together in Austin and San Antonio.

As a parent and grandparent, Mary Claire set the standard. She was a loving, caring mother who demonstrated her faith throughout her life setting a good example for the rest of her family. Mary Claire enjoyed family gatherings and worked tirelessly in the kitchen planning and preparing meals. She loved holidays when she could spend time with friends and family. Mary Claire supported her children and grandchildren by giving encouragement and by attending school activities, club activities, and musical performances. She was proud of all of her family members and their accomplishments and was quite progressive with her computer skills to keep in touch through email and even Skype. Mary Claire loved her nieces and nephews dearly and was always excited to hear about the happenings in their lives. She was the center of communication for a busy family separated by many miles.

Mary Claire and Ray celebrated their 50th Anniversary in August of 2002 at St. Anne Catholic Church among family and friends. After fifty-eight years of marriage, Ray passed away in 2011. Mary was blessed with a wonderful circle of friends whose love carried her through her grief and pain. They filled her life with many meaningful and fun activities. Her children and grandchildren often had to check her social calendar before they could arrange family gatherings!

All of us are blessed to have spent time with Mary Claire.  She influenced so many lives through her teaching profession, her service to others and her love for family and friends. We are so grateful for the way she has touched our lives.  If you wish to honor her memory, please consider a donation to St. Anne Church or to Some Other Place.

She is survived by son, Ray ”Chip” Wadenpfuhl, Jr. and his wife, Linda, of Huntsville; daughter, Linda Schrank Jones of Austin; five grandchildren, John Wadenpfuhl and his wife, Brandy, of Saginaw; Lee Wadenpfuhl and his wife, Natalie Favaloro, of Boston, Massachusetts;  Stephen Wadenpfuhl of Houston; and Keileen Schrank and Lewis Schrank, of both of Chicago, Illinois; great-grandchildren, Dominic, Gabriel, and Analeigh Wadenpfuhl of Saginaw; sisters, Lynn Leblanc of Covington, Louisiana; Lynell  Braun and her husband, John, of Slidell, Louisiana; and Joy Fontan and her husband, Don, of Covington, Louisiana; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A gathering of Mrs. Wadenpfuhl’s family and friends will begin at 5:00 p.m., with a Christian Vigil to follow at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, July 11, 2013, at Broussards, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 12, 2013, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont. Her graveside service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, July 13, 2013, at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens, 2280 West 21st Avenue, Covington, Louisiana.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77702 or Some Other Place, P.O. Box 843, Beaumont, Texas 77704.