“Astonishing!” certainly defined my mother, as her life was remarkable. A Cajun, country girl from Coteau, Louisiana, born in 1942, she described herself as, “quiet and shy with big thoughts!” Just out of college, in 1964 she married my father, a boisterous Spanish/Italian football coach from Birmingham, Alabama. He was the love of her life until her last breath, 55 years later.

In 1965 Louisiana Law required a pregnant woman resign from teaching when she started to “show.” Pregnant with me, she resigned, had five more children, and served our family as a stay-at-home mother.

My father, a brilliant political strategist, turned our humble home into a hub for accomplished political figures and those seeking to hold office. We hosted big fancy dinner parties where Mom prepared scrumptious meals from our freezer which stayed filled with shrimp, and ducks stored up from our hauls with the trawl boat and winter hunts. As children, we served our guests, then took our places at the table where we were encouraged to participate in the conversations of the day.

Mom reentered the workforce for one year as the District Manager of the 1980 Census. Then, much to our astonishment, at 42 years old, she called a family meeting and announced her candidacy for Louisiana State Representative in 1983. My father went into shock, as she had done a perfectly great job of spoiling him. She was adamant in saying “I will never sacrifice my soul, my home or my family for politics!”

From housewife to the House of Representatives… she trounced her opponents and became the first woman elected in District 45, outspent $2.1M to $40,000, she won 60% to 40%. She won re-election, then made history as the first woman in the country elected to a Public Service Commission. She again won re-election, and in 1991 momentarily threw her name in the hat for Governor. In 1995 she handily beat the field of contenders in the race for Lt. Governor. After serving two terms, she became the first and only woman to win the seat of Governor of Louisiana. Untarnished by scandal or misdeed, her political career spanned 25 years with nine undefeated campaigns. Smart with a quick wit, she earned two nicknames for her political style, the Velvet Hammer and Queen Bee. Ever the quintessential southern woman operating in a world run by men, she wielded her power and bended others to her will with grace, courage, and strength, while sporting her signature color Blanco Blue with pearls.

A devout Catholic, her faith was the hallmark of her life. She never planned her career path, as she understood that God would place her where He wanted her, and each day she would do whatever He asked. She believed that worrying was a waste of time, fruited nothing, and indicated a lack of faith in God, so she didn’t do it. She drew unfounded strength from her knowing that God was working all things for her good. Clever and witty, she chose to embrace most of life’s hardships as if they were her idea.

Her silly sense of humor kept life fun and her artistic ability made our world more beautiful. She was quick to make you laugh at the goofiest pun. She was a talented seamstress and portrait painter whose pen doodles were frame worthy. One morning my father gave her a valentine with a rose, by evening she gave him a beautiful painting of the rose.

Much sorrow filled our lives as we parted ways with seven immediate family members from sudden tragic death. The most defining moment of her life came on January 2, 1997. Crushed by the fallen counterweight of a crane, the beautiful life of her youngest child, nineteen-year-old Ben Blanco was extinguished. She stoically gave the eulogy at his funeral saying, “a mother must give a proper goodbye to her child.”

Ocular melanoma, a rare, deadly cancer took her life on August 18, 2019. She faced her death with unwavering courage and leaned on her faith for strength. It was her dying wish to be remembered for her faith in God, her devotion to family, and her love of Louisiana’s people.

Her greatest accomplishment was love!