Laura Shepherd Menard

Laura Shepherd Menard passed away on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at the age of 63. She was born September 1, 1962, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Lawrence Henry Shepherd, Jr. and Betty Ann Janky Shepherd. Upon graduating from Belaire High School, Laura received her accounting degree from Louisiana State University. A chance encounter at a friend’s wedding resulted in Gerald G. “Gerry” Menard and Laura later marrying in 1986. She briefly entered the workforce as a certified public accountant with the State of Louisiana, until she eagerly retired to take on her most successful and beloved job as a mother.

Laura is survived by her devoted husband of 39 years, Gerald G. “Gerry” Menard; their beloved children, John A. Menard and his wife Katie, and Grace E. Menard; and their grandchildren Anna C. Menard and Alex H. Menard. She is also survived by her mother, Betty J. Shepherd; her sister Kathryn S. Zinna and her husband Randy; her mother-in-law, Yvonne M. Menard; as well as numerous other family and countless friends.

The family would like to acknowledge the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, the Neuromedical Center in Baton Rouge and her caregivers, who became like family of our own.

She is preceded in death by her father, Larry H. Shepherd, Jr.; her father-in-law, Rodney L. Menard; and her aunt, Donna L. Janky.

To know Laura was to know pure love and especially laughter, lots of it. Music impacted much of her life including time spent as a choir member at her church, St. Andrews United Methodist Church, playing the piano, and singing as loudly as she could on road trips and dancing. She was the person that always put others at ease, somehow melding her take charge personality and fighting spirit, with joy and compassion, Laura was who you wanted in your corner and who always was there to help others – she got the job done…always, usually with a Diet Coke in her hand! If something was mundane, you only needed to add Laura to the mix, and it became fun. She was the epitome of ‘a people person’, making friends with total strangers in every room she entered. One could say she had a case of FOMO, never wanting to be left out of an event or conversation, her engaging spirit carried her, her family and friends through the last 18 months with many memories and lots of laughs. She never missed a moment to tell someone that she loved them.

She spent hours tending to her yard, putting to use the garden loppers that Gerry gave her for Christmas. Her passion for exercising, especially Jazzercise, even as she was in hospice care family and friends were astonished by her drive. Above all it was her family – her husband, children and grandchildren that made Laura feel whole. She devoted all her time to seeing their children succeed, whether volunteering at Parkview Baptist Church, sitting in the carpool line (that she enjoyed) or being a room mom – she always made being a mother a priority. As a family they went on annual summer vacations, and as John and Grace got older, the trips were replaced by river cruises to Europe with just her and Gerry.

While there will never have been enough time together, we relish the time shared and the memories made. We will carry you in our hearts forever.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Memorial Visitation from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2025, at Resthaven Funeral Home, 11817 Jefferson Highway in Baton Rouge. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at St. Andrews United Methodist Church, 17510 Monitor Avenue in Baton Rouge. The family will attend a private inurnment at a later date at Resthaven Gardens of Memory.

For those so desiring, memorials in honor of Laura Shepherd Menard may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center (Online Donations - St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital)

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com