Memorials › Juanita Mae "Mimi" Picone Buntzel Conlan
Juanita Mae "Mimi" Picone Buntzel Conlan
20 Nov 1911 – 19 Jun 2010
| Birth | 20 Nov 1911 |
| Death | 19 Jun 2010 |
| Cemetery | Prairie Lea Cemetery Brenham , Washington County , Texas , USA |
| Added by | Amy The Spirit Seeker on 09 Dec 2011 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76124461 |
Bio
A memorial service celebrating the extraordinary life of Juanita Mae "Mimi" Picone-Buntzel-Conlan will be held at her church, St. Peters Episcopal Church 2310 Airline Dr., Brenham, Texas 77833 on July 10, 2010 at 1:30 p.m. Father Bob Gribble will celebrate the Holy Eucharist. In accordance with the wishes of Juanita, her grandson-in-law John Bradshaw, MA, MSP, Ph.D., will talk about Mimi's love of family, life and adventure. He will also talk about the virtues of a life well-lived, a life that Juanita enjoyed. Family and friends are invited to share memories about Juanita. Refreshments are being provided by the ladies of the St. Peters refreshment committee and will be served in the Parish Hall immediately after the service. Our family is grateful for the many messages of condolences. Juanita Mae Picone Buntzel Conlan, the matriarch of six generations of the Buntzel family, passed away in Brenham on June 19, 2010 at the age of 98. "Mimi" or "Nita Mae" as many called her, was born in Houma, Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana on Nov. 20, 1911 of strong French and Italian roots. Mimi was eldest child of Juanita Mae Blanchard and Joseph Picone Jr. Mimi's grandparents, Alcee and Jules Adrien Blanchard were the parents of Juanita Mae Blanchard (Mimi's mother). Mimi's great-grandparents, Sophie Elodie Broussard (daughter of Eusilien Broussard) and Amand Adrien Blanchard were the owners of the II. D. sugar plantation located on the west bank of Bayou La-Fourche and later resided in Belle Rose, La. Mimi's mother, Juanita Mae Blanchard, apprenticed at the fashionable store that her future mother-in-law, Mrs. Louisa Picone owned-designing and manufacturing millinery items, clothing and purses. Mimi's grandfather, Mr. Joseph Picone Sr. owned the adjacent store and delicatessen, which his son Joseph Picone, (Mimi's father) helped to operate on the banks of Bayou La-Fourche in Houma. Their family lived above their shops. That is how Mimi's parents met. Mimi often fondly recalled days of her childhood In Houma when ships dumped piles of oysters on their dock and learning to eat the fresh oysters on the half shell. At that time with three younger siblings, no responsibility was ever too great or adventure out of reach. Due to her mother's declining health, the family traveled by train, moving to Belen, N.M., where the air was clean and brother Arthur W. Picone was born in 1921. Approximately a year later, the family moved to Sugar Land where her father worked at the Imperial Sugar Company. In 1923, when Mimi was only 12, her father Joe built her a car. Driver's licenses were not required in Texas then and she was often sent to the store with her young brother Joe Al Picone to pick up bread and supplies. A petite and brilliant beauty, Mimi had many friends in Sugar Land, including a young man with a need for boating, flying and speed. Mimi and her brother Joe would often water ski with this young man, Howard Hughes. Their relationship waned somewhat when Mimi wrecked Howard's car. Just two and one-half months after Mimi graduated from Sugar Land High School in 1929, Mimi and her four sibling's dear mother, Juanita Blanchard Picone died at the age of 38. On Aug. 24, 1929, Mimi married Herbert Buntzel Sr. a handsome man who she met through her father. After they married, Mimi and Herbert moved to Brenham, Texas where he operated an auto repair shop. Herbert "Pop" was a mechanic who could fix anything with a motor and spent time as a volunteer with the Brenham Fire Department and later served as Fire Chief of Brenham. (Their grandchildren knew not to touch the red phone on the back porch that was used exclusively to alert Pop to local fires). On July 30, 1930, they welcomed their only child, Herbert Buntzel Jr. They were members of St. Peters Episcopal Church in Brenham. Mimi began work at the Montgomery Ward's store in Brenham for the next 33 years and retired as manager. In 1950, Mimi became a charter member of the Brenham Pilot's Club where she served as president in 1954-55. Mimi was also an international delegate of the Pilot's Club and was the longest surviving charter member until her death. She had a passion for bowling and was a member of the Texas Women's Bowling Association where she competed in many tournaments. Mimi was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Brenham Fire Department. In 1951, son Herb and wife Joyce presented Mimi and Pop with their first grandchild, Gaile Lynn Buntzel. Karen Ann Buntzel followed in 1953 and grandson Mark Warren Buntzel arrived in 1955. Mimi and Herb were thrilled to have a grandson to carry on the Buntzel name. Herb and Joyce traveled with their children to Brenham to visit Mimi and Pop every other weekend for the next 20 years. Christmases were always magical at Mimi and Pop's home in Brenham. The Christmas tree was usually adorned in white snow flock with red cardinals perched on the limbs. The formal living room overflowed with presents and even their dachshund Doxy wore a sweater. On Christmas Eve, the grandchildren were driven around Brenham to see the lights, which unfortunately for them, was the same time that Santa came and left gifts at and Mimi and Pop's home. Easters with Mimi and Pop were also enchanting. After taking the traditional photographs among the blankets or bluebonnets and the Indian paint brushes, Gaile, Karen and Mark gathered enough flowers to make woven Easter baskets which were placed on the front porch. The Easter Bunny never missed a visit to the Buntzel home on Second Street in Brenham. The Maifest parade, marked the beginning of Spring and Mimi's grandchildren enjoyed riding the floats and going to the fair. Thanksgiving was always a big feast at Pop and Mimi's with all the relatives bringing traditional dishes. The family spent a lot of time playing penny poker with the extended Picone family. All the little ones couldn't wait until they were old enough to play with the adults. Always cordial and social, Mimi hosted hundreds of ladies' teas in her home. She was fascinated with life and the world and never missed the opportunity to travel. Her first European trip was to visit her brother Arthur and family in The Netherlands. They traveled throughout France, Germany and Italy. Mimi and Pop spent their leisure time fishing with the grandkids at Seeker's Lake or Lake Somerville, barbecuing, boating, hunting for arrowheads and petrified wood, gardening and traveling. Grandchild Karen and great-grandchild Dawn lived with Mimi and Pop in Brenham for about a year and a half. In 1972, Pop suffered a heart attack but in time was nursed back to health. On May 25, 1973, despite the best cardiac care of that era, Pop died peacefully at home from a heart attack while surrounded by a playful litter of kittens. Determined to continue her travels, Mimi joined Loners on Wheels and travelled throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. On one of her trips, she met and later married James Conlan of Paradise, Calif. They loved to travel and polka. Mr. Conlan died in 1996. Over the years, Mimi mastered the art of three dimensional Brazilian crochet. It wasn't unusual to see her sitting at a lecture taking notes in her 90s. Like Michelangelo she "never stopped learning." Over the years, she was an avid poker player. The kids laughed when they saw all of 4' 10" of her at a Texas Hold ‘em table surrounded by burly men with cigarette packages rolled up in the sleeves of their tee shirts. And Mimi won! She said, "Dear at 90, there are no poker faces." In Texas, Mimi spent much of her time staying with her former daughter-in-law Joyce Buntzel Miller in Missouri City or with Karen and John Bradshaw at one of their homes in Houston, Galveston, Cat Springs or Sealy. Mimi often said that Herbert, her son, "never stopped loving Joyce." In fact Herbert maintained a sweet relationship with Joyce, calling her at least once a week to check on her and their children and visiting her most every time he was in the Houston area up until a few months before his death in 2009. Joyce and Mimi often travelled together, shopped, and visited relatives. Many times they travelled with John and Karen Bradshaw to Reno, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Galveston, Brenham, and on their own from Seattle through to Alaska. Mimi's grandchildren, Gaile, Karen and Mark doted on her and never missed a chance to go to lunch or dinner or to help her with her everyday needs. They lavished her with mad money, great jewelry and love. Over the last 14 years Mimi spent virtually every Christmas, New Year, Mother's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving and birthday (including those of her grandchildren, great, great-great, great-great great grandchildren) with Gaile, Mark and Karen and their extended families. She never forgot a niece or nephew's birthday. Besides her husbands, and many friends, Mimi was preceded in death by her brothers, Arthur W. Picone of Missouri City, Joe Al Picone of Brenham, sister Carrie Lee Green of Brevard, N.C., and her only child, Herbert Buntzel Jr., who passed away in 2009. Mimi is survived by her brother James Oliver Picone and wife Bette of Winter Hughes Park, Fla.; half-brother Louis Picone of Corsicana; and sister-In-law's Beatrice "Tincy" Picone of Brenham, and Ora Nell Picone of Missouri City. Grandchildren: Gaile Daniels, Karen Bradshaw and husband John Bradshaw, and Mark Buntzel all from Houston. Great-grandchildren: Dawn Heather Mabray, Sean Alan Daniels and wife Robin and Raegen Katrina Legenzoff; great-great grandchildren Korina Kara Balderas, Zachary Alan Daniels, Collan Reese Daniels, Joslyn Katrina Legenzoff, Ireland Michelle Daniels and Madelyn Michelle Todd; and great-great-great granddaughter Ariel. Also surviving Mimi are many nieces and nephews including: Janis Picone Grant (Mimi's goddaughter), Patricia Picone Campbell and husband Carson, Arthur W. Picone Jr. and wife Christy, James O. Picone Jr., Kaye Picone Morris, Joe Al Picone Jr. and wife Merle, Jo Lynn Smith and husband Pat, as well as daughters-in-law Joyce Buntzel Miller and Wanda Buntzel and six Conlan step-siblings. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Peters Episcopal Church, 2310 Airline Dr., Brenham, Texas 77833 or the charity of your choice. Her ashes will be interred at Prairie Lea Cemetery with her son Herbert Jr. and beside her husband Herbert Buntzel Sr. Brenham Banner-Press Friday, July 9, 2010 ******* The grandchildren of Juanita Mae Picone-Buntzel-Conlan, Nov. 20, 1911-June 19, 2010, invite you to a memorial service celebrating her extraordinary life on July 10, 2010 at 1:30 p.m., at St. Peters Episcopal Church in Brenham, Texas. Father Bob Gribble will celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Refreshments will be provided in the Parish Hall immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Peters Episcopal Church, 2310 Airline Dr., Brenham, TX 77833 or the charity of your choice. Brenham Banner-Press Saturday, July 3, 2010
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