Pamela L'Heureux

Pamela Algwen L’Heureux

November 8, 1936 – August 16, 2025

Pamela L’Heureux, 88, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away on August 16, 2025, in Henderson, Nevada. Pamela was born on November 8, 1936, in Glendale, California, the only child of Albert and Gwendolyn Simpson. In her early childhood, the family divided their time between Glendale, San Clemente, and Phoenix, where her father had been raised. Tragically, her father passed away suddenly when Pam was just seven years old. Her widowed maternal grandmother, Catherine Holley, moved in to help raise her while her mother, a theater arts professor, supported the family. A few summers were then spent in Monterey and Mexico City, Mexico.

Pam loved animals, especially cats. As a child, she had a white Persian cat and a little Jack Russell terrier who would alert her mother if she wandered too far. She loved to dance and appeared on early television performing ballet and jazz. She continued taking dance lessons until the age of 66. Pam provided the voice of “Becky” in a weekly radio series version of Tom Sawyer.

She attended Mayfield Junior School in Pasadena, where a kind sister nurtured her love of reading by gifting her a steady supply of books. At Mayfield Senior

School, Pam participated in theater productions, volleyball, and basketball. During high school, she met her future husband, Roland, on a double date---though he had been her friend’s date that evening. They were married the year following her graduation on February 19, 1955, at St. Andrews Church in Pasadena.

During Roland’s service in the U.S. Army Engineers, they lived in Missouri and Alexandria, Virginia before he was sent to Korea. After his return they lived in Arcadia and later in Pasadena. Pam handled the payroll, billing, and bookkeeping for Roland’s construction business. She earned her Associative Arts degree from Pasadena City College and studied broadcasting and journalism at California State University, Los Angeles, while raising their two daughters and continuing her role in the construction business.

Pam spent countless hours in the car driving her daughters to dance, piano, and horseback riding lessons, always actively supporting their interests. She volunteered for church and school events, wrote the newsletter “On Pointe” for the Pasadena Ballet Theater, and offered her time at the Pasadena Playhouse. She was also a proud member of The Daughters of the American Revolution.

In later years, Pam and Roland relocated to Las Vegas, often traveling to Phoenix to visit their eldest daughter, Laura, and her family. Pam adored her only

granddaughter, Ariel, and often came to stay with her when her parents were away. She also loved caring for Ariel’s terrier, Sarah and especially enjoyed watching Ariel’s figure skating lessons. They were fortunate to easily spend time with their younger daughter, Letitia, and their son-in-law, Steven, as they were also residents of Las Vegas.

After a series of falls and a stroke that severely impacted her speech and vision, Pam anticipated moving into an assisted living facility with Roland. Sadly, Roland suffered a fall and a broken hip just days before their planned move and never made it there, passing a few months later in the spring of 2024. Pam carried on with her beloved cat, Lucy, at Oakmont where she found kindness and companionship among the staff and residents despite her challenges of communication.

Pam is preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Gwendolyn, and her devoted husband of 69 years, Roland. She is survived by her daughters, Laura and Letitia, and her cherished granddaughter, Ariel.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on September 8, 2025, at St. Joseph Husband of Mary Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. A private burial will follow the next day at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests offering a prayer to St. Mary on behalf of a loved one or donating to your local animal shelter ---gestures that would have brought Pam great joy.