Lorraine Marie Camel Sheehy Pendleton

Lorraine Marie Camel Sheehy Pendleton, of Metairie, Louisiana, passed away on Friday, June 25, 2021, at the age of 88. She is preceded in death by her parents Blaise Gratien Camel and Odette Bordes Camel, her late husband John Joseph Sheehy by first marriage, and the late Neal F. Pendleton, Jr. by second marriage. She is survived by her three children, Stephen John Sheehy (Georgianne), David Sean Sheehy (Lori), and Suzanne Marie Sheehy Cline (Paul). Lorraine is also survived by six grandchildren, who affectionately called her Mere; Annie Odette Sheehy, Noah Clark Cline, Ellen Louise Sheehy, Blaise Brendan Sheehy, Meaghan Mikaela Sheehy, and Jacob Matthew Cline. 
Lorraine was a 1945 graduate of St. Francis Xavier Grammar School and a 1949 graduate of St. Mary’s Dominican High School.  In 1952, she received a B.S. in Education degree from Loyola University, and in 1980, received a master’s in Education degree from that same institution. She was awarded the Founders Award, Zeta Rho Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi, from Loyola University.
Lorraine taught in the Jefferson Parish schools of J.C. Ellis Elementary for 32 years and Airline Park Elementary for one year.  She supervised many student teachers from UNO and Dominican College. Lorraine received in 1986 the Excellence in Teaching Award from the East Jefferson Council of the Chamber, and the New Orleans River Region.  After retirement, she did substitute teaching for ten years and prepared students for the LEAP program at J.C. Ellis Elementary School.
Lorraine was a member of the Retired Teachers Association, and active in the Jefferson Parish Chapter for District II. For five years, she was a Covenant House volunteer and taught the Life Skills Program. She was also a City Park Botanical Gardens member and volunteer, where for 20 years, she escorted school tours. An avid gardener, Lorraine grew many types of plants, her favorites being bromeliads and camellias. She was an active member for several years in the River Ridge and Greater New Orleans Bromeliad Societies and enjoyed sharing her knowledge of plants with fellow members.
She was an active member in the Camellia Club of New Orleans, the Northshore Camellia Club, and held membership in the Gulf Coast and Baton Rouge Camellia Clubs. She was also a member of the American Camellia Society. Other organizations in which Lorraine participated were the Ladies of the Red Hats and the Jefferson Council on Aging on Boulevard, where she served on the Board and participated in Line Dancing. She was a member of the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion, Metairie Unit # 175, and was a volunteer for the Student and Opera Performances at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts.  She was a member of the Irish Cultural Society and active in the Ulster Project as a Host Family and participated in the AARP of Metairie and Mandeville Chapters. She was also a member of the Metairie Woman’s Club, the Young at Heart Senior Program sponsored by the Northshore Baptist Church, the Northshore Newcomers Club, and the Covington Garden Club.
                  Lorraine and her husband John learned to square dance with the Red Hots Dance Club and later joined School House Squares, where she did round and square dancing for 30 years. She was also active in the New Orleans Museum of Art, Longue Vue Gardens, Audubon Zoo, and a member of Friends of Saint Alphonse. Lorraine enjoyed theatre, symphony, and world travel, including several trips to Ireland to meet John’s family and the Sheehy-Kingston clans, where lasting friendships were made.
                  Lorraine was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church her entire life. After retirement, she became a member of Bon Temps, St. Margaret’s Daughters, did CCD work for three years, and scheduled many hours at the Adoration Chapel. She was also a member of St. Benedict’s Church when she lived on the Northshore. Lorraine had a passion for life and dearly loved her family and close friends. She was blessed by two wonderful husbands, John Sheehy, for 49 years, and Neal Pendleton, Jr., for ten years. She was proud of the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.
                  The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to her caregivers Heather Travis-Grice and Casee Smith for the compassion they have shown over the past years; the entire staff at Peristyle Residences Old Metairie Gardens for the professionalism and care they provided during her last weeks, with the support of Serenity Hospice and Metro Med Pass in her final days.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend services at St. Francis Xavier Church, 444 Metairie Rd. on Friday, July 2, 2021. Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM, with words of remembrance at 11:50 AM, funeral Mass following at 12:00 PM. Interment will follow at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 at 3421 Esplanade Ave, New Orleans. Greenwood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, Masses are preferred.

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