Mom was a force. She was my biggest cheerleader and my harshest critic when I needed it. I can’t even begin to tell you how hard the last few months have been without her backing me up. In life you have two choices, let the pain and loss beat you down or you can flip it on it’s back and use it to fuel growth.
I know what my mom would want me to do, so I have decided to use it for fuel to get back into running and training. I will be running the New York Marathon this Fall in Mom's honor. We are raising money for the fight against the disease that took her life - breast cancer. We are going to paint the Big Apple Pink and live life to it's fullest in her honor.
Claudine was born in Baton Rouge while her dad was at LSU Law School following his service in the Marines in World War II. Claudine grew up in a military family, and they traveled the world from station to station as she grew up. Her Dad’s posts included an Air Force base in England, Chennault Air Force base in Lake Charles, Anderson Air Force base in Guam, Scott Air Force base in Illinois and, finally, Barksdale Air Force base in Bossier City. Claudine graduated from high school while they were stationed in Guam. Upon graduation, Claudine elected to attend Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge where she met her future husband, Alexander “Chip” Blondeau. After graduation from LSU they were married and then remained in Baton Rouge while Chip attended LSU Law School. Upon Chip’s completion of Law School, they continued the family’s military service tradition while Chip served on active duty for four years as a Captain in the US Army. After Chip’s release from active duty and transfer to the active Army Reserve, they settled in Bossier City for several years and then returned to Baton Rouge and the South Louisiana lifestyle that they missed.
Claudine’s true calling in life was to be a mother. She was a caring and thoughtful mother to her two children, Barret and Alison, and a mother figure to all of their friends. From cooking us warm chocolate chip cookies after school while watching Winnie the Poo to baking homemade drop biscuits on Sunday mornings for a bunch of hungover teenagers, Claudine created memorable moments that we and our many friends will always treasure. Her parties were second to none. The almost weekly backyard Blondeau bashes during our high school and college years, LSU tailgates, and New Year’s and Mardi Gras parties at the Royal Street house in the Quarter will all be forever etched in the memories of everyone that attended. Many problems were solved during those parties with her late-night heart to hearts over the kitchen counter. During these long conversations, she was usually successful in getting the scoop on Alison and Barret from one of our unknowing inebriated friends.
Always spoke her mind, whether you wanted to hear it or not.
She showed her love the most perfect ways, whether by cooking up something tasty for family or dropping a thoughtful gift off to a friend. She had a knack for decorating and could turn a rundown college rental into the Taj Mahal with a few quick waves of her wand.
Her annual Thanksgiving Day feasts for 50+ people were something out of a Hallmark movie. Cooking, entertaining, and breathing love into a family year after year. You knew you really made it in the family when Claudine finally gave you an apron with your name on it to clean up at the end of the day.
Claudine was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Aileen Delaune, her brother Wade Delaune, and her son-in-law, Jason Hoffmann.
Claudine is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Jeff and Linda Delaune; her husband Chip Blondeau; her daughter, Alison Hoffmann; her son and daughter-in-law, Barret and Julie Blondeau; her grandchildren – Blake Hoffmann, Rivers Blondeau, and Wakely Carter; and a great grandchild, Carter Wilkerson.
Claudine always said don’t send flowers to my funeral, instead shower me with them while I am still alive. Well, she got her wish, the last three months of her life she was surrounded by beautiful arrangements and the love of the people she deeply touched in her life.
We truly appreciate all the love and support for our family! We hope that this fundraise can make an impact to give mothers/fathers more time with their families by detecting earlier and treating breast cancer more efficiently.
Love you so much Mom! I really miss you, and I know you will be out there on the course to push me and maybe throw a cold glass of water in my face if I need it.
Think Pink Rocks is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise awareness about early detection of and genetic testing for breast cancer and to provide funding for screening, treatment and research.
Please support my fundraising efforts for the 2022 TCS New York City Marathon Fundraising. No donation is too small. Please click on the donate button!
