Barbara R. Istre

New Iberia– A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted for Barbara R. Istre, age 87,
on Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Fr.
Keith Landry officiating. Entombment will follow at Holy Family Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 8, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and
resume on Saturday, December 9, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. until the time of service. Rosary
will be prayed in the funeral home on Friday evening at 6:30 p.m.

Barbara Ann Robin Istre was born on August 24, 1936 to Harry and Margaret Penn
Robin in Opelousas, LA. 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, LA 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
arrangements.