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Laura Mannino Collett Hebert passed away on March 28, 2021, at Rest Haven Nursing Home in Bogalusa, at the age of 91. Laura was born June 8, 1929, in Independence, to Angelo Mannino and Mary Ragusa Mannino, who preceded her in death. She was predeceased by her husband, Carrol Hebert; and siblings, Sam, Carmelite, Mike, and Rose Marie.

She is survived by her brothers, Joe (Margaret), Angelo (Nancy), and sister-in-law, Nina. Laura was initially married to Sam J. Collett Sr. of Bogalusa, with whom she had her three children, Anthony (Tony) Collett of Bogalusa, Frances C. Williams (Rick) of Orlando, Fla., and Sam J. Collett Jr. (Tonda) of Covington. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Abby, Leslie, Barrett, Jonathan and Sam III; six great-grandchildren, McKenna, Landon, Laura, Sienna, Colbie and Weston; and many nieces and nephews.

After her husband Sam passed away, and years later, Laura married Carrol Hebert and moved to Covington. Laura loved to sew and cook and eventually turned each of those passions into business ventures. She was well known within the local community and beyond for her exquisite, custom designed and hand-made wedding and ball dresses, many of which required a hundred hours or more of tedious work to complete and were coveted by those who wore them.

She eventually opened “The Bridal Boutique” retail shop in Bogalusa which she successfully operated for many years. Later, she started “Laura’s Sweet Tooth” and sold her home-baked cakes and cookies to the public from her home and at area trade shows. Following her move to Covington, and in her retirement, Laura joined the local seniors’ club where she ran the weekly bingo group. She regularly supplied those in attendance with a variety of her home-baked treats and many attended for that reason alone.

Laura also enjoyed gardening and was most proud of her beautiful roses and the vegetables grown in her yard. Her other interests were listening to polka music and watching dancing on television. In typical Italian fashion, visitors at her home were always greeted with a hug and invited to sit down and enjoy one or more of her latest cooking delights, such as her tasty Italian sausage bread, along with a generous serving of her home-baked desserts.

The Rev. Father Daniel Brouillette will be officiating a private ceremony.

In lieu of flowers, any donations in her memory can be made to Annunciation Catholic School. Special thanks to the staff at Rest Haven Nursing Home, especially Shanda St. Pierre and Jada Owens.

 

“If Roses Grow In Heaven”

If roses grow in heaven,

Lord, please pick a bunch for me.

Place them in my Mother’s arms

and tell her they’re from me.

Tell her I love her and miss her,

and when she turns to smile,

place a kiss upon her cheek

and hold her for a while.

Because remembering her is easy,

I do it every day,

but there’s an ache within my heart

that will never go away.

(Author — Kirsten Preus)