Beverly "Claire" Nash Fruge'

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday June 1, 2024, at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Grand Coteau, Louisiana at 10:30AM for Beverly “Claire” Nash Frugé. Claire Frugé passed away on May 26, 2024, surrounded by her loving family, at her home in Sunset, Louisiana. A visitation will be held at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home in Opelousas, Louisiana on Friday May 31, 2024, from 5:00PM until 8:00PM with a rosary recited by Denis Edgard Simon, IV at 7:00PM. Visitation will continue at St. Charles Borromeo Church on Saturday June 1, 2024, at 9:00AM until the time of service. The Reverend Msgr. Keith J. DeRouen and the Reverend Mark Kramer, S.J. will officiate funeral services. Interment will follow at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Cemetery.  

Claire Frugé was born on November 30, 1955, in Opelousas, Louisiana, where she also grew up. She graduated from the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau, Louisiana in 1973.  She went on to attend LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education in 1977 from the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Claire obtained advanced educational training in Speech Pathology. After a long and impactful career as an Early Steps Infant/Toddler Interventionist, she retired from the St. Landry Parish School Board, where she had worked for twenty-five years. 

Claire married the love of her life, Mark Daniel “Danny” Frugé, Ph.D., on May 22, 1976. They resided in Sunset, Louisiana and recently celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary.  Claire adored Danny, who could always elicit her signature laugh to fill the room.  They spent all their time together, doing things they loved, and even worked together at the St. Landry Parish Pupil Appraisal Center, where they would visit each other daily. 

Claire and Danny raised four children in a home that was full of love, patience, empathy, and compassion.  Claire’s mastery of organization, unfailing energy, and constant determination ensured the successes of her children: three physicians and an architect.  Her selfless nature and prioritization of her children’s emotional needs always inspired their best efforts; she always held herself, her husband, and her children to the highest moral standards.  Her own efforts as a mother and grandmother went above and beyond to make each and every member of her family feel special on birthdays, holidays, or any day of the year.   One of her favorite holiday traditions was Christmas tea at the Windsor Court Hotel in New Orleans with her daughters and granddaughters. 

Claire was a devout Roman Catholic.  She practiced her faith her entire life and frequently attended Bible Study classes. She also taught children’s Sunday School and volunteered for many different committees and church events at St. Charles Borromeo Church.  For over forty years, Claire volunteered as an alumna and mother at the Academy of the Sacred Heart, where she also orchestrated the fudge booth with Sister Guidroz at Congé for over a decade. 

Claire always had a joyful heart, a beautiful smile, and a contagious giggle.  She enjoyed shopping, gardening, reading, traveling to the mountains and the beach, and cooking. More than anything, she loved being a doting grandmother to her 12 grandchildren. She never missed a school or athletic event, recital, birthday, or special day with them.  She was distinctively elegant, incredibly intelligent, impressively organized, and a kind and loving woman to all who knew her. 

Claire Frugé is survived by her husband of 48 years, Mark Daniel “Danny” Frugé, Ph.D.; her children Emily Frugé Simon, M.D. and her husband Denis Edgard Simon, IV, Amy Frugé Petersen and her husband William Petersen, Jr., Elizabeth Frugé Eustis, M.D. and her husband Fenwick Eustis, V, and John Daniel Frugé, M.D. and his wife Clara Frugé; her grandchildren Sophie Simon, Denis “Gardner” Simon, V, Oliver Simon, Katherine Petersen, Everett Petersen, Claire Petersen, Fenwick Eustis, VI, John Nash Eustis, Eleanor Eustis, Graham Frugé, Elliot Frugé, and Max Frugé; her siblings Marie Nash Stander, Mary Nash Dubuisson, Foster Parlange Nash III and his wife Megan Nash; her longtime friend Shelia Roundtree; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other dear family members.  She was preceded in death by her parents, Beverly Claire Hebert Nash and Foster Parlange Nash II. 

The family extends its sincere gratitude to the compassionate physicians and staff at M.D. Anderson, Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care, and Our Lady of Lourdes, especially Dr. Akshjot Puri. 

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mrs. Beverly Claire Frugé can be made to the Academy of the Sacred Heart and Berchmans Academy at https://www.ash1821.org/giving.