Mary Mildred Castille Filisky

Published 12:00 am Sunday, February 27, 2022

Mary Mildred Filisky, known as “Millie,” passed peacefully from this life on January 15, 2022, at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California at the age of 86.

Born in New Iberia to George J. Castille Sr. and Elmire Tauzin Castille, both of Breaux Bridge, she would reside in her hometown until relocating to Lafayette and then Dallas, Texas with her first husband, local jazz musician Lloyd Joseph Hébert, in 1968. Millie married her second husband, John Filisky, in 1970 and relocated to Los Angeles, California, returning to New Iberia after his retirement in 2009.

Millie attended Mt. Caramel Academy, serving as editor for the Grit and participated on the speech and debate team. A devoted mother and wife, she was known for her penchant to “adopt” and mother those around her. She believed children were a priority and made sure her home was a safe place for them and even fostered several children while raising her own.Her doors were always open and a pot of French-drip coffee ready for visitors. She had a passion for civics, politics and literature which she nurtured throughout her life. A rare and feisty spirit, she was known for her frank truthfulness and unapologetic expectations of those around her.

Millie and John were active members of St. Peter’s Catholic Church as well as the local veteran’s club. After John’s death in 2016, Millie returned to the Los Angeles area to be closer to her five children.

She is survived by her children Blaine Hébert, Belinda Hébert (Guttman), Wardell Hébert, Lee Hébert and Peggy (Hébert) Junker; her grandchildren Robin Guttman, Aijia Grammar, Corey Hébert, Dyllan Hébert, Caroline Kuehner-Hébert, Zachary Hébert and Alexandria Junker; and her great-grandchildren Onyx Havens, Yarrow Havens, Louisiana Grammar, Israel Grammar and Gavin Hébert.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John; her siblings Lee Guy Castille, George J. Castille Jr., Margaret Thibodeaux, Eula Mae Courrege, Louella Verret, Raymond Castille, Ellis Castille Sr., Laurence Girouard, Charles Castille, Marie Verret and Elmire Jouet; and her first husband Lloyd Joseph Hebert.

A celebration of life will be held in her honor in Los Angeles, California, in April, with a ceremony to follow at a future date in New Iberia, where she will be laid to rest next to her husband and family.