Agnes "Vielle" Huval

Agnes “Vielle” Hebert Huval, the beloved matriarch of the Huval family, went to meet her Lord and Savior on November 28, 2020. Agnes will be remembered for her loving, compassionate, and generous nature and for her unwavering devotion to her family and friends. Agnes and her twin sister Anne Reno were born to René and Bertile Guidry Hebert, Sr. on August 24, 1931 in Grand Anse, Louisiana. Agnes’s parents modeled the strong work ethic that became the fabric of her life. At an early age, Agnes, her seven siblings, and her cousin, Wes Hebert, learned to help her father on the family farm by raising livestock, assisting in the vegetable garden, and picking crops of cotton and peppers. She also learned the art of cooking from her mother who crafted fine family dinners despite their modest lifestyle, and she learned how to be resourceful by watching her mother sew cardboard shoes and flour sack clothes to stretch the family’s meager budget. After the seventh grade, Agnes and Anne left school to help support their family by accepting a babysitting job for George and Flo Dupuis who became her mentors. They taught her housekeeping and clothes pressing skills, and she excelled so quickly that they offered her a job at their grocery store, stocking shelves and serving customers. In a short period, Agnes became the manager of the store. At 15, she and Anne briefly moved to Baton Rouge to work in a coffee shop, and it was during this time that Patrick “Pat” Huval proposed marriage. Agnes accepted, and at 16, they returned to their hometown, married, and made their home in Grand Anse. Agnes and Pat’s remarkable ambition propelled them to open a grocery store in 1948. To supplement their income, Agnes would wake early to pick cotton before bringing it to the store to sell in individual bags. From dawn to dusk, Agnes and Pat worked in the store and sold hamburgers. Always pursuing new ways to broaden their business, they began to add seafood and crawfish dishes to their menu, gradually building a local following. In the early 1950s, they bought the Henry Guidry dance hall and restaurant, and in 1952, they sold that establishment and purchased the building in Henderson which became Pat’s Restaurant where they perfected the Cajun dishes for which they became famous. Agnes oversaw every aspect of the restaurant’s operation. Her role included supervising the cleaning, service, and food preparation. One of her trademarks was expediting the kitchen service to ensure that food was prepared and served quickly with steam rising from the dishes to ensure freshness. She understood the value of food presentation and taught her staff that quality was in the details. Agnes knew their visitors sought an authentic Cajun cuisine experience, and she endeavored to deliver the very best Louisiana can offer. For her elevation of the restaurant profession, the Louisiana Restaurant Association recognized Agnes with the Hall of Fame Award in 2020, but the ceremony was postponed due to Covid-19. One of the secrets to Agnes’s success was her commitment to her employees. She developed strong relationships with her work family, and she often claimed that she had the best cooks, servers, and bus help. To create a positive work environment and reward their hard work, she hosted an annual employee barbecue at Evangeline State Park. Until her death, Agnes remained a friend and mentor to many with whom she worked. Agnes and Pat were pioneers in the incorporation of the city of Henderson. In 1971, Pat was elected the first mayor of Henderson, and as the first First Lady of the newly founded city, Agnes was actively involved in the planning and progress of the community. They both wanted a safe environment in which to raise their four children and immediately began improving the area. One of the first projects they pursued was paving the dirt and gravel roads of the city. After the roadways were upgraded, a city hall and local jail were built, and the city’s development continued to progress. The first local municipal trash services were established as well as a fire station and a 20-acre park. Agnes’s role as First Lady was instrumental as she listened to the needs of the citizens and advocated for their plight. An attentive listener, Agnes was known for her compassion. As a prayer warrior, she often received calls to pray for specific needs, and she would stop everything to enter prayer on the behalf of others. She frequently brought young people into her home who had no other place to live, paid medical and dental bills for those who needed assistance, paid utility bills for those who were without work, and fed the hungry—many times from her own pantry. Agnes was especially tender hearted for families who could not buy toys for their children at Christmas time, and she became their very own Christmas miracle. Agnes was a people person, and she loved filling her home with food, laughter, and music, especially zydeco and Cajun. She enjoyed going shopping as much for the opportunity to people watch as make purchases. “Joy riding,” as she liked to call riding around, was her way of staying busy and checking in on her community. She was ladylike, possessing a unique combination of determination and grace. Family was Agnes’s heartbeat, and she was proud of her children, Harvey, Nancy, Cynthia, and Jude. However, it is well known that her grandchildren and great grandchildren were her favorites. In the middle of the night, her grandchildren would wake her and request some of her good home cooking. With a sweet smile, she gladly obliged. She left her family a treasury of midnight cooking memories and a legacy of pure love. Agnes will be remembered as a loving mother and grandmother, a faithful friend, a devoted restauranteur, and a generous community member. We are blessed to cherish the memories of Agnes “Vieille” Hebert Huval. She is survived by her two sons, Harvey (Tracy Guilbeau) Huval of Cecilia and Jude (Wendy Hebert) Huval of Parks; two daughters, Nancy (Richard) Perioux of Lake Charles and Cynthia (Wade) Domingue of Henderson; eleven grandchildren, Kaysha (Rick) Sims, Nicholas (Amanda) Perioux, Natalie (Wade) LeBlanc, Alacia McGee, Joel Dore, Kandi Huval, Lucas Perioux, Chance Huval, Julien Huval, Peyton Domingue, and Olivia Huval; nine great grandchildren, Hanna Sims, Jace Boney, Zaylie Serrette, Mason McGee, Jackson LeBlanc, Isabella LeBlanc, Madden Guidry, Eli LeBlanc, and Owen Perioux; sister, Mae Grace (Preston) Taylor of Arnaudville; significant other, Charles Hebert. She was preceded in death by her parents, René and Bertile Guidry Hebert, Sr.; the father of her children, Patrick Huval; five sisters, Noémie Huval, Chlorine Huval, Honorine Angelle, Anne Reno, and Joanna Roberts; and her brother, Rene “Frère” Hebert, Jr. The family will celebrate Agnes’s life in a private funeral service. Her family would like to invite everyone to line the streets of Henderson for a horse drawn carriage procession beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 5, 2020 at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Henderson and will process towards the restaurant then back to St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery for internment. Pallbearers will be Harvey Huval, Jude Huval, Nicholas Perioux, Joel Dore, Lucas Perioux, Chance Huval, Julien Huval, and Peyton Domingue. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Perioux, Wade Domingue & Riley Hebert. Pellerin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.