Jean Mascaro Pigéon Boettner

Jean Evelyn Mascaro Pigéon Boettner, passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of August 21, 2023, after bravely fighting the effects of a stroke four years ago. Jean was born May 26, 1936, to Evelyn Schulz Mascaro Horowitz and Wilton Roque Mascaro, Sr. A lifelong New Orleanian, Jean attended St. Leo the Great and was a proud active alumna of St. Joseph Academy.

Jean was the proud mother of seven wonderful children whom she raised with her beloved husband of 41 years, Edwin Pierre “Petie” Pigéon, Jr. Jean and Petie were founding members of St. Edward the Confessor Parish and helped establish the PTA, were active members of the Green Acres Country Club and loved to organize events with their friends, the Trumpers Social Card Club. Their time and dedication to St. Edward’s Parish and Green Acres were instrumental in establishing the prominent community that still exists today.

Jean’s efforts also extended to the food, beverage, and hospitality industry as she worked alongside her husband Petie to create Sterling Foods in the 1960s and Pigéon Foods in the 1970s which her sons Dean and Jean Pierre would grow to be Carnival Brands Foods and Pigeon Catering.

Jean enjoyed all the tradition and entertainment her hometown has to offer, and rarely missed an opportunity to celebrate — her name is immortalized as a Lady Court Jester at the Court of Two Sisters, a fun scavenger hunt she enjoyed sending everyone on when they were in the French Quarter. Jean is from a generation of New Orleanians that we cannot replicate, no matter how hard we try. A New Orleans that did care but remembered to enjoy life and have fun along the way.

However, what Jean will be remembered most for was her beautiful, ever-present smile and the way she made every person feel welcome in her home and her kitchen - an invitation many over the years enjoyed as Jean’s culinary abilities were second to none. Jean had the special gift of making something ordinary truly extraordinary with her unmatched style and zest for life.

In her later years, Jean enjoyed traveling — especially on the Vince Vance annual cruise — visiting with her seventeen grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and countless friends and family that loved to be surrounded by her kindness and positive energy.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents Evelyn Schulz Mascaro Horowitz and Wilton R. Mascaro, Sr., brother Wilton R. Mascaro Jr., beloved husband Edwin Pierre “Petie” Pigéon, Jr. and second husband Robert A. Boettner. She is survived by her brother Roger D. Mascaro (Su-zanne) and by her children Shelley Pigéon (Eddie Boettner), Andrée P. Gernhauser (David), Dean G. Pigéon (Debbie), Troy D. Pigéon (Kara), Tiffany P. Swoboda, Nicole P. Whitteker (George) and Jean Pierre Pigéon. As well as her grandchildren Kyle Waguespack, David Gernhauser, Jr., Robert Pigéon (Morgan), Sarah G. Materne (Zachary), Devin Waguespack (Laurie), Dean Gerard Pigéon, Jr. (Christie), Caroline G. Sehlinger (Troy), Lauren Pigéon, Hannah Rote, Edwin P. Pigéon II, Meredith Paisant, Conrad Frey IV, Riley Pigéon, Daniel S. Paisant, Jr., Olivia Frey, Vivianne Pigéon, Fulton Pigéon, twelve great-grandchildren and countless nieces, nephews and those that considered her an adopted “Mom.”

Please join us in celebrating her extraordinary life at St. Edward the Confessor Church in Metairie, LA on Thursday, August 24, 2023. Visitation is for 10-12 noon followed by a Catholic Mass. After Mass internment will be held at Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of traditional black, please wear a bright color in honor of the bright light Jean was to so many. There is nothing more she would want than to celebrate her life with family, good food and good friends.