Ramona Lea Hermes

Hermes of Shreveport, LA 84, died after a lengthy illness on June 22, 2014, at Willis Knighton Hospital (North) in Shreveport. She is preceeded in death by her parents, Amedee A. Brossette and Evelyn (Hancock) Brossette of Shreveport, and her husband, Harry Herman ""Dunie"" Hermes, Jr. Our mother was born November 21, 1929, in San Angelo, Texas, and, at a very young age, moved with her parents to Natchitoches where her dad worked on a farm near the Red River. They later relocated to Shreveport. Although a child during the Great Depression and the war which followed, it was clear from her stories that she experienced an overall happy and content childhood, punctuated with a number of memorable events. Ramona attended St. Vincent's Academy, elementary through high school, afterward attending college at Northwestern State University. She developed a number friendships along the way, most importantly her lifelong best friend Sybil Wibker Tigert. Her eyes always lit up as she told stories of their adventures. Throughout her education, Ramona was very close to, and was certainly influenced by, some of the Sisters who taught at St. Vincent's. During her young years, she spent many summers in Natchitoches and the neighboring community of Grand Ecore, further gathering experiences of life in Louisiana. We heard many tales of interesting personalities such as ""Sister Cox"" who, much to our surprise during a family visit years later, turned out to be a real person. She showed us the utility line which spanned across the river and described how she and Sybil ""belly crawled"" across one night in response to a dare. In 1953, Ramona married her true love and soul mate, Dunie Hermes. During their 37 years of marriage, they created nine children and many more happy memories. In 1990, her world was shattered when Dunie passed away. She kept his memory alive and patiently waited almost 24 years until finally being reunited with him this past Sunday morning. Perhaps it was the experiences of life during the depression, living near the railroad tracks on Broadacres Road, having hobos knock at her backdoor asking for and receiving food; or the influence of the Sisters and their culture of poverty, self-sacrifice and service; or maybe it was the culmination of all of our mother's life experiences; but, whatever it was, she became an extraordinarily selfless, giving, and serving person. Throughout her life she taught her children by example and impressed upon us that we are here on this earth not for ourselves but to serve and support others. Some particular expressions of her children: ""Mama always remembered birthdays of everyone, children and grandchildren, and made a point of giving a gift and a card."" ""Christmas was very special to her and she made sure that everyone received a gift."" ""Mama shared her home to an unfortunate non-related family following the loss of their home due to a fire."" ""Mama was always glad to hear from one of her children, it made her day."" Ramona and Dunie are survived by their children and (spouses/significant others): Harry Hermes, Colorado Springs, Co.; David Hermes (Beth), Sugar Land, TX.; Randal Hermes (Susan), Ruston, La; Alan Hermes (Ramona), Michael Hermes (Patti), Matthew Hermes (Stacey), Christopher Hermes (Ashley), all from Shreveport, La.; Shannon Brewton (John), Benton, La.; and Lloyd Hermes (Cherri), Greenwood, La.; and their grandchildren: Ashley, Chad, Jessica, Harry, Hayden, Joshua, Amy, Kaysie, Michael, Jeremy, April, Tanner, Alex, Daniel, Dale, Jonathon, Jennifer, Jason, Erin, Blake, Heather, Christin, Elizabeth, Davey, Adam, Erica, Jared, Rachel, Tara and Kaylin. Our mother was also the proud matriarch of41 great-grandchildren (give or take). Ramona is also survived by her sister Mapsita Brossette Flynt of Cullman, AL, and numerous nieces and nephews. A special thank you to our sister Shannon, our sisters-in law, Cherri Hermes and Stacey Hermes, each of whom so graciously shared their homes and helped our mother as caregivers during the past few years of her life. A memorial Mass will occur at 2 p.m., Friday, June 27, 2014, at St. John Berchman's Cathedral, 939 Jordan Street, Shreveport, Louisiana. Following the Mass, a reception will be held from 4pm to 6pm, at the Forest Park Funeral Home which is located at 1201 Louisiana Avenue, Shreveport. Our mother asked that in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to any of the following: The Rescue Mission (Shreveport), LA Food Bank, St. Jude's Children Hospital, and Toys for Tots.