Lois Cecilia Nalty Hammet

LOUISVILLE - Lois Cecilia Nalty Hammet passed away on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. She was born on March 14, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Buford Hammet; her parents, Raymond Joseph Nalty and Orris Bradley Nalty; and her brother, Raymond Joseph Nalty Jr.

She is survived by her sister, Shirley Nalty Farrell; her children, Katherine Hammet Zoppoth (Scott Peter Zoppoth) of Louisville, Lawrence Buford Hammet II (Mary Bentley Jenkins Hammet) of New Orleans, Louisiana, David Nalty Hammet (Margaret Kirkpatrick Hammet) of Marion, Illinois, and Patrick Doyle Hammet (Shara Sights Hammet) of New Orleans, Louisiana; 12 grandchildren, Bradley Scott Zoppoth (Mary Charles Pence) Ellen Hammet Flaim ( Silvio Emmett Flaim), Mary Bentley Rainer Palmer (John Gray Palmer III), Elizabeth Lee Hammet Foose (Brice Anthony Foose), Lois Hammet Oaks (Troy Braddock Oaks) Katherine Zoppoth Kirson (William Harris Kirson), Anne Nalty Hammet Kozeny (Christopher Patrick Kozeny), Margaret Lucille Hammet, Patricia Mae Hammet, Virginia Dowdy Hammet, Isaac David Hammet and Martha Nalty Hammet; and eight great-grandchildren, Ruth Maybel Flaim, Kensington Kathryn Zoppoth, Noah David Foose, Emmett Thomas Flaim, Hayden Anthony Foose, Cecilia Rainer Palmer, Cecilia Jeane Zoppoth, and John Gray Palmer IV.

She grew up in Hammond, Louisiana, and attended grade school at St. Thomas Aquinas School. She then attended The Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans as a boarding student and graduated in 1952. She attended Maryville College of the Sacred Heart in St Louis, Missouri and then transferred to Louisiana State University where she majored in Communications.

She and Larry were married in 1955 and for a time they lived in Paducah, Kentucky. After leaving Paducah for a few years, they returned to raise their family. Originally Louisiana was always home for Lois, but Paducah became her adopted home that she loved dearly.

"La La" as she was affectionately called by her nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren, would light up a room, not only with her physical beauty but with her contagious laugh and sincere kindness to all. She was a wonderful mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother and great friend. Navigating her husband's career and four children, she was gracious in fully supporting their various endeavors with school, sports and hobbies. She loved UK Basketball, Louisiana strawberries, and tomatoes from Paducah's Farmers Market. She relished family gatherings whether they were held at Hickory Hill, Forest Circle or Beau Chene.

She loved all things gardening. She enthusiastically grew, planted and propagated flowers and plants, as well as creating beautiful flower arrangements. When visiting her children, she would often bring them her latest success. She was an avid member of the Paducah Garden Club for many years, serving as president. She was a member of the Four Seasons Garden Club of Paducah, also serving as president. She served as an officer of the Garden Club of America, Zone VII. One of the many things she loved about her garden club affiliations was the tradition to decorate Whitehaven for Christmas and encouraging those to visit Paducah in the spring for the annual Dogwood Trail Festival.

Lois was a devout Catholic, quietly sharing her faith. She set the example for her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. No one recalls her missing Sunday Mass. No matter what city she visited, Mass was part of her itinerary. She was a member of St. Thomas More Church. She often volunteered for workdays at St. Thomas More, such as maintaining the flower gardens on the Church grounds, assisting with flower arrangements for the altar and helping orchestrate the efforts for the Church's latest need.

Her Faith, character, and spirit never wavered despite her lengthy battle with dementia. Heaven is no longer missing an angel.

Her family would like to give a special thank you to all the caregivers at Amber Oaks in Shelbyville, Kentucky and those at the Nazareth Home, Clifton Campus, Louisville, Kentucky.

The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Assisi in New Orleans, Louisiana at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 15. Burial services will be conducted later that day at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Hammond, Louisiana.

At the family's request, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Paducah, Kentucky; or The Academy of The Sacred Heart, New Orleans, Louisiana.