Sylvia Sanchez Duhe

Sylvia Sanchez Duhe passed away peacefully on Friday February 28,2025 at the age of 84. Sylvia was born on September 25,1940 in New Orleans. She grew up in Kenner, the daughter of Alcide Sanchez and Hester Guidry Sanchez. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 56 years, Wiltz “Duke” Duhe III, her sisters, Delores Jacobson and Rebecca Sanchez, her brothers, Myrum Sanchez and Richard Sanchez. She is survived by her son, Keith Duhe and daughter-in-law Julie Kass Duhe and her granddaughters Kristin Duhe Malhiot (Ian) and Kimberly Duhe Smith (Joseph), her great grandchildren Brayden Duhe, Dakota Malhiot, Jackson Smith and Piper Malhiot and her sister, Constance Sanchez Huffman (Randy) as well as many nieces and nephews.

 Sylvia moved to the Northshore 46 years ago and lived in Hammond and Loranger. She loved to dance and spoke often about enjoying dancing with her father. She enjoyed camping with friends and traveling. Sylvia loved everything Christmas and collected Santa Claus figurines and kept them displayed year -round. She was a proud and loving mother and Nana. She always showed her love and support as well as being the biggest fan of all her Granddaughters’ activities and rarely missed even the smallest events of their lives while spoiling them shamelessly. Her annual tradition of baking Christmas cookies with them has been sorely missed the last few years as her health declined but shall continue to be a very fond memory as they continue the tradition with their families. Sylvia portrayed Mrs. Claus in the annual horse-drawn Christmas parade in Loranger alongside her husband, Duke, as Santa, for 15 years.

 Sylvia was a two-time survivor of both breast and colon/rectal cancer. She displayed her true strength and conviction to be the winner in her fight the last 9 years, while still maintaining her happy disposition and quirky sense of humor. We would like to thank the medical staff at the Pontchartrain Cancer Center and Mary Bird Perkins for their caring treatment, as well as the staff at the Phoenix Living Center and Modern Home Health and Hospice for their loving care of her.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation held at Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home, 2000 N. Morrison Blvd, Hammond, LA 70401, on Friday, March 7, 2025 at 8:30 am - 10:20 am, with a Funeral Mass held at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 55720 Hwy 445, Husser, Louisiana 70442 at 11:00 am. 

Interment will follow at St. Dominic Catholic Church Cemetery