Jennie Marie Hinch

Jennie Verrett Hinch, 80, of Lake Charles passed from this life on Thursday, November 30, 2017.

Jennie was born to Herbert and Lucy Verrett on November 14, 1937 in Morgan City, Louisiana and in her early childhood she moved to Lake Charles where she lived the rest of her life.

Jennie attended and graduated from St. Charles Academy. Attending McNeese State University she was a charter member of Chi Omega. While at McNeese she met and married the love of her life, William “Bill” E. Hinch. While at McNeese she attained many degrees including a Master’s Degree in Education.

Her teaching career began and ended at Lacassine High School. She taught 1st grade for over 41 years touching countless young minds with the loving and nurturing manner of a mother, while raising her own four children who loved, adored, and admired her so much that they all also attained degrees and careers in education. Her students were also so touched by her life and example that many of them followed in her footsteps and pursued a career in education. These former students later became fellow teachers who she was so proud of and was so honored to work with.

During her teaching career, and long after retiring from teaching at Lacassine in 2001, she continued to be involved in voluntary educational programs such as the Science and Social Studies Fairs. She was also awarded Jeff Davis Parish Teacher of the Year, and was chosen by KPLC for the “Class Act Award”. Jennie was so loved by her students and her school that they dedicated a new playground in her name.

Her love for her students went far beyond the classroom. When she heard of her students who were hospitalized or ill, she made it a priority to stop what she was doing to visit them and showed them how much she cared. Not even the boundaries of our country could hold her love captive. Many of her former students, whether they were deployed overseas, or protecting us at home, received letters of encouragement and gifts.

Outside of the classroom, she coached girls’ softball teams and assisted with the Blue Bird Girls Club. Most importantly, she devoted her life to her Father through the Catholic Church by being both a lector and a Eucharistic Minister at mass.

Jennie Verrett Hinch will live on in our hearts forever.

Jennie is preceded in death by her granddaughter, Hailey Danielle Hinch; husband, William “Bill” E. Hinch; mother and father-in-law, Florence and Edwin Hinch; parents, Herbert and Lucy Verrett; son, Craig Stephen Hinch; and a Godchild, Danny Lee Gabbard.

Jennie is survived by her three daughters, Ginger Hinch Durio, Penni Hinch Bourgeois (Joey), and Billijo Hinch Boyd (John, Jr.), all of Lake Charles; siblings, Audrey “Sis” Cole and Kenny Verrett (Vicky); brother-in-law, Arthur Hinch (Bonnie); grandchildren, Cade S. Durio (Amber), Kati Hinch, Jenni Bourgeois, Luci Durio, Joe Bourgeois (fiancé, Julia Hairr), Johnna Durio Smith (Dakota), Jace Boyd, Charlie Grace Boyd, Drew Boyd, Shane Hinch, Derek Hinch; and five great grandchildren.

Visitation will begin on Monday from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM with a rosary being recited at 6:00 PM. Visitation will resume on Tuesday from 8:00 AM until leaving for the church at 10:30 AM. A funeral mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church. Monsignor Jace Eskind will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.