Barbara R. Istre

Published 12:00 am Saturday, December 9, 2023

A Mass of Christian burial will be conducted for Barbara R. Istre, 87, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Fr. Keith Landry officiating. Entombment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023 and resume from 8 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday, December 9, 2023. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:30 p.m. on Friday evening in the funeral home.

Barbara Ann Robin Istre was born on August 24, 1936, to Harry and Margaret Penn Robin in Opelousas. She and her older sister Margaret Marie developed a close bond during her formative years as the family moved numerous times seeking work during the depression era. Barbara would tell stories of having attended 6 different schools in 7 years. The family finally found stability in Sulphur where she met the love of her life Donald Istre. It was also where she opened her first dance school at the ripe age of 13. After graduation from Sulphur High School she was given the choice to educate her mind or her feet. She chose to move to New York City to train in ballet and tap. Though she loved to dance, performing on stage was not in the cards. However, she and her father danced together often to entertain the troops at Fort Polk.

On July 26, 1958, she married Donald and they spent the next 52 years together until his death. Her children can attest to never having seen them fight or have a cross word. Mama ruled the house and Daddy was devoted to her. They were a wonderful example for all to emulate, especially in their religious convictions.

In the early 80’s Ms. Istre was a fixture in the principal’s office at Mt. Carmel Academy where she worked doing bookkeeping and other tasks. It was there that she was influenced to become a religion teacher. There is a generation of New Iberia children that were educated in the Catholic religion by Ms. Istre at either Mt. Carmel or Catholic High, including her two granddaughters. She believed that you earned your faith the same way you learn to dance – by practicing. To her family, she earned the nickname “The Pope” from her children while they were growing up – until she changed the rules of penance during Lent for her grandchildren. Granny could not say no to them.

Barbara had a spirit of adventure and loved to travel. Over her lifetime she and Donald traveled to all 50 states and several European countries.

In her later years she began leading a lady’s exercise class with a group of mature women from the Presbyterian Church. A very strong bond was created between Mom and these ladies and the family wants them to know that they kept her going during some trying times. The same can be said for the Rosary Group that meets at the library. We thank you all.

Through it all she continued to dance. Her final tap dance on this earth was on Thursday, November 30, 2023, but we all know she is now dancing with the angels.

Barbara is survived by her daughter Lee Ellen and husband Keith Price, her daughter Lyn and husband Scott Leger and her son Michael and his wife Connie Stagg Istre; her granddaughters Rebecca Price Hill (Brandon) and Cassie Price Edwards (Nick); her grandsons Logan Istre (Madeleine) and Ethan Istre (Zoey); bonus granddaughter Jenna Clement; and her great-grandchildren Grayson and Wyatt Hill and Jaylyn, Graham and Owen Edwards.

Serving as pallbearers will be her nephews Robin, Mark and Kent Myers, her grandsons Logan and Ethan Istre and Graham Edwards.

Honorary pallbearers are D. Lee Verret Jr., Dwayne Hebert, Grayson and Wyatt Hill and Owen Edwards.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara’s name may be made to The Sisters of Mt. Carmel, 62284 Fish Hatchery Rd., Lacombe LA 70445.

Family and friends may sign the guest register book and/or send condolences at www.davidfuneralhome.org.

David Funeral Home of New Iberia, 1101 Trotter St., 337-369-6336, is in charge of the arrangements.