Mildred Williamson Buchert's Obituary
Mildred “Millie” Williamson Buchert, aged 96, passed away peacefully on January 31,2018 at her daughter’s home, surrounded by loving family. Millie was born on December 14, 1921 to the late John and Rose Williamson. The Williamson family operated a grocery store at the corner of General Pershing and S. Liberty. It was on General Pershing that she met her beloved Cyril (Cy). As World War II was heating up, like so many young couples of the Greatest Generation, they married before “Cy” left to serve our country in the Pacific Theater. Upon his return they began their family and raised their six children. Millie and Cy remained newlyweds for 71 years until Cy’s death in April of 2015. In her youth and into her eighties Millie was an outstanding athlete. She attended McMain High School in New Orleans where she played basketball, volleyball and indoor softball. In 1936 the VFW Softball League named her as an outstanding player. In 1940 she was voted Outstanding Athlete for her graduating class at McMain High School. While raising her children Millie played an active role in coaching them in a variety of sports. She was active in volunteering and organizing in their respective schools and Church. After having lived in Gentilly Woods, in New Orleans and Wentwood, in Kenner, Cy and Millie moved to St. Tammany Parish in 1970. Cy built their new home in Folsom on their slice of heaven. In 1998 they moved to Covington and were neighbors to the Brothers of St. Pauls. As their nest emptied they turned their attention to their grandchildren. It was not unusual to see and hear Millie with her cowbell cheering her grandchildren on while participating in their various sports activities. Millie was equally active in volunteering at their schools. While living in Folsom she became a “full time” volunteer at Lee Road Jr. High where she was affectionately known to all as “Miss Millie”. She continued to volunteer after she and Cy moved from Folsom into Covington where she volunteered at Covington Elementary School. In honor of her contributions to the school and teachers, Covington Elementary School established the “Miss Millie Angel Award”, which is now given each year to the person recognized as the volunteer of the year. In 1984 both Millie and Cy became involved in the Louisiana Senior Olympics. Their involvement took them around the country competing in a number of states. They competed in the National Senior Olympics on a number of occasions. Like Cy, Millie was inducted into the Louisiana Senior Olympics Hall of Fame. Millie competed in shot put, discus, javelin and table tennis. Beneath her sweet exterior was an intense competitor, a trait she passed on to her children. She was such a competitor that it was common knowledge by family and friends that one should never come between Millie Buchert and a Mardi Gras doubloon. Millie was known to family and friends for her subtle sense of humor and joyful laugh. She was also known for never meeting a piece of chocolate she didn’t like or a piece of French bread she couldn’t burn. Millie was loved, respected and enjoyed for so many reasons but the single most powerful and indelible mark she has left on all of us was her profound and unshakeable faith in God. Whatever adversity she faced she always placed her faith in God and Lord Jesus Christ. She never hesitated to share her faith in the healing powers of the Blessed Father Seelos. It is rumored that all who met Millie walked away with a Father Seelos holy card, scapular or reliquary. Once, during an interview regarding her volunteerism, she told her high school interviewer that “The moment which changed my life was my Confirmation when I became a Warrior for Christ. It made me conscious of the values I should seek out and want in my life.” This was Millie Buchert. She will be missed by all but never forgotten.
Millie was preceded in death by her three siblings Tommy and Johnny Williamson and her sister Rosemary McAuley. In 1976 she was preceded in death by her youngest son, Donald. She is survived by five children and their spouses: Cyril Jr. and Janet S. Buchert, Dianne and Michael Lind, Kenny and Cathy Buchert, Ronnie and Janet C. M. Buchert and Laurie and Ricky Heck. She is survived by her thirteen grandchildren and their spouses, Benjamin and Jennifer Buchert, Brian and Betsy Buchert, Erik and Stephanie Lind, Michael and Katie Buchert, Jacob and Billie Buchert, Joshua and Kelly Heck, Kim Buchert, Justin and Tara Heck, Cleve and Kelly Boudreaux, Nick and Anna Russo, Laurie and Brett Bickham, Christian and Annie Buchert, and Nicholas Buchert. She is also survived by 22 great grandchildren, Jordan, Jacob, Benjamin, Samuel Buchert; Luke and Cooper Buchert, Jackman and Emma Lind, Cooper and Henry Boudreaux, Alice, Andrew, Adeline Buchert; Peyton, Olivia and Logan Russo; Caden and Caylee Heck; Jaxon and Levi Heck; Millie and Annie Bickham.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral services at St. Peter Catholic Church, 125 E 19th Avenue, Covington, LA 70433 on Monday, February 5, 2018 at 12:00 PM with visitation on Monday beginning at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Catholic Church; Christian Brothers Retirement Community, 917 S. Jahnke, Covington, La. 70433; St. Tammany Hospital Hospice, 725 W. 11th, Covington, La. 70433.
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