Nanette Carpenter: Motherhood anchored in Jesus

“Here I am, Lord,” are words on a plaque hanging outside Nanette Carpenter’s front door.

This Scripture passage describes her lifelong openness to faith as a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and now great-grandmother who was recently named the 2021 Regina Matrum Award recipient by the Council of Catholic School Cooperative Clubs (CCSCC).

Carpenter was flabbergasted on March 21 when her name was announced as Archdiocese of New Orleans’ “Mother of the Year” by the CCSCC’s Fern Carr and Roxanne Valenti at her parish church, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Belle Chasse. It was her daughter, Jenni Guidry, who had invited her to that Mass as moral support as she beseeched parishioners to help save the parish school – where she, her four siblings, children and nieces and nephews – have attended for 47 consecutive years.

Carpenter, not knowing what was going on, asked Jenni why her name was being called and was told to go up to the altar. Then, Father Kyle Dave, pastor, asked her to say a few words to the congregation and the rest of her family who were surprised.

“It was so unexpected. I had no idea,” Carpenter said. They handed her a bouquet of white roses. On May 10 at 7 p.m. at OLPH Church, a Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Gregory Aymond, who will present her with a medal and a certificate.
School, parish work abounds

Carpenter, no stranger to volunteering at Our Lady of Perpetual Help school or church, is the mother of four living children, ranging in age from 40-52 (her daughter Christine passed away in January at age 51). She also is grandmother of 10 and great grandmother of two.

Her volunteer work all started when her oldest child, Stephanie, was in kindergarten and volunteered her for weekly cafeteria duty.

“Once I started, I felt that I needed to be present and there as much as I could for my kids,” she said.


Carpenter has been a room mother, school board member, Cooperative Club president and second vice president, cafeteria manager, fair booth chairman, bingo worker and even cheer coach and coordinator for Our Lady of Perpetual Help School.

For the parish, she’s been an extraordinary minister of holy Communion for more than 30 years, parish school of religion coordinator and CYO director for five years.

Of all her church work, Carpenter said she most enjoyed being the first lay director of the parish school of religion, and head of CYO.

“Being the parish school of religion director was one of the most incredibly wonderful things I ever did,” she said. “I worked in a place where everybody had the same values and same faith. … I loved planning events –  first Communions and picking out the curriculum.”

“The CYO was also close to my heart,” she said, adding how she traveled with teens to Universal Studios, Six Flags in Texas and held two annual retreats. “I loved those kids and am still in touch with some of them.”

Those who watched her work in the parish called her, the “Energizer” bunny.

“We have no idea where she gets the courage or energy to face the many crosses she has carried and is still carrying in her life,” said friends Laura Drewes, Donna Smith and Bonnie Tonglet.  “She is the perfect example of a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother who has lived her entire life with God by her side.”

Husband, family are her rocks
Carpenter, who is the oldest of seven children, said her husband Asward “Zu” Carpenter, the eldest of three from Westwego, is her strength. They met at St. Anthony of Padua New Orleans’ “Padua 20s” ministry that held dances, hay rides and other activities for those who had graduated from high school and were over age 18. They married in 1967 at her home parish of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in Chalmette and had their first of five children a year later on their anniversary.

“We bumped heads a bunch and still do because we are both outspoken,” she said. “Neither one of us minds taking leadership roles. … But I was very fortunate to have married a wonderful man and a good husband who has been very supportive, and he’s got a pretty good faith himself.”

As far as parenting styles go, Nanette said she wouldn’t call hers super strict – her oldest daughter always knew if she said “maybe” it meant “yes” –  but one infused with Mass, prayer before meals, even in restaurants, teaching her children the rosary and, at nighttime, making the sign of the cross on her children’s foreheads saying, “Jesus bless you and protect you.”

It’s something her children continue with their children. Her children all live in Belle Chasse, within 25 minutes of her house.

“I think we raised some really good kids,” Carpenter said. “They are all married and have good spouses and wonderful children, but no family is perfect or without troubles.”

She said her Catholic mother was a role model of faith. Her dad, a hard-working Lutheran, supported his family and wife’s faith choice.

“She was a wonderful mom,” Carpenter said. “We were blessed to grow up with my parents. We were poor, but didn’t know it. … We all went to Catholic school. … I know there were struggles, but we were happy because we were so loved.”
Bring struggles to prayer

Faith has been central in her life, helping her through medical struggles. Christine was born with spina bifida, and she has battled cancer for 12 years.

“Without my faith, I don’t think I could have survived a lot of things,” she said. “I believe God does miracles through the hands of doctors. With my faith and good doctors, I’m not dying yet.”

Continuing a family tradition, her second great grandson was baptized recently at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in a baptismal gown her grandmother made for her oldest daughter. Fifteen relatives have been baptized in the gown. She’s the safe keeper, handwashing after each use.

Carpenter said that she has no magic wand or secret advice for raising children.

“It’s hard to raise kids,” she said. “Each one is different. The main thing I would say is you keep Jesus in your life, and you keep him in your home. … You hope some of the things you teach them will last, and some have.”

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