She was raised in Welsh, Louisiana by her two German parents and was pure German. Gretchen's father came to the United States when he was 16 and her mother's parents were both born in Germany.
She was a Welsh High School Greyhound and star basketball player, playing side-by-side with her best friend Penny.
While in the 9th grade, Gretchen met her sole mate for life, D.L. Benoit. The two of them dated throughout high school and college and on September 6, 1969, they were married. On September 6th of this year, the loving couple were going to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary. Their marriage produced two children, Tara who is married to Chris and lives in Winston Salem, North Carolina and Josh who is married to Julia and they live in Houston, Texas.
Each of the two children has four boys, which are Gretchen's eight grandsons: Patrick Phillips, Andrew Phillips, Connor Phillips, Robert Phillips, Henry Benoit, William Benoit, Paul Benoit, and Luke Benoit. She never got that girl but boy did she love those boys.
Gretchen graduated from McNeese in 1970 with a bachelor's in Physical Education and was the girl's PE teacher at Our Lady Queen of Heaven for 30 years. Besides her children and grandchildren, she always thought her greatest accomplishment was starting the girl's athletics program at OLQH. Gretchen said she went to Msgr. Irving LeBlanc and told him she wanted to start girls' athletics and he said "Angel, you do whatever you want". This resulted in 6th, 7th and 8th grade girls basketball, 7th and 8th grade track, and 8th grade volleyball which continue to this day.
Gretchen's other love was tennis. She and D.L. have been members of the Lake Charles Racket Club for 49 years. Gretchen was elected to the board of directors and eventually elected President of the racket club joining a few select women to hold that position. Up until her sudden illness she was playing tennis twice a week with her great group of friends known as the Tennis Thugs; Jane, Grace, MaryAnne, Anne, Pat, and many other great friends. Of course, after a three-set match, it was always concluded with a good glass of chardonnay.
She also enjoyed going to Las Vegas and the local casinos. Her favorite statement was "I lost but I had fun and went to a bunch of bonuses".
Gretchen also loved to travel. She and D.L. were very fortunate to have traveled the world with numerous trips to Europe, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and many Caribbean Islands.
Gretchen is survived by her husband, D.L. Benoit; her daughter, Tara Phillips and her husband Chris; her son, Josh Benoit and his wife Julia; eight grandsons; two sisters, JoAnne Louviere and husband A.C., and Marlene Daigle. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Joseph and Josephine Naebers; her in-laws, Dallas and Esta Mae Benoit; her brother, Ronald Naebers; her brother-in-law, Alvin Daigle; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Joe Ray Vanicor.
Gretchen's services will be handled by Hixson Funeral Home in Lake Charles, Louisiana on Monday
August 5, 2024. Visitation will be from 8:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. when the procession leaves for the church. A rosary will be prayed at 9:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. followed by burial at Our Lady of Seven Dolors cemetery in Welsh, Louisiana.
In lieu of flowers, the family would request donations to the American Heart Association.
