Paul Joseph Dugas

Paul Joseph Dugas was a loving husband and father who left this world much too soon on November 21, 2021 as a result of complications from Alzheimer’s. Paul was born in San Diego, California, to Mary and Max Dugas and moved to Donaldsonville, Louisiana shortly after. He had one sister, Fairalee. When he was 12, his family moved to back California, where he graduated from Cathedral High School in Los Angeles and studied art at Hollywood Arts School. He served in the Air Force Reserves. Paul married Camille Vigil in 1962 and they moved back to Louisiana, to New Orleans, where they would stay to raise their family. They have two children, Pio and Reine. Much of Paul’s career was in the restaurant industry. He worked for Hoffmaster, Diamond Paper, Southern Food Service, and was a member of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. In 1980, he opened Pio Bar Supply, where, over the years, many of his customers would go on to become close friends. In his later years, Paul devoted much time to his art, focusing on watercolor and winning many awards for his work. He traveled to Italy several times with his family and would return to paint the landscapes and buildings of the country he came to love. His camera in one hand, a limone gelato in the other, and he was a happy man. Paul had a big personality and an even bigger heart. His greatest loves were his family, Italy, telling a story, and painting. He adored Camille, affectionately calling her his date even after 59 years of marriage and would bring her a rose every Friday. Paul would do anything for his children, happy to spend time with them over a cup of coffee or a walk around the neighborhood, or to help out with work that needed to be done. Those lucky enough to know him were gifted with the spark and joy that he carried with him every day of his life, even up to the end. Paul’s legacy is to live a bold and big life. His wish for everyone would be to travel, to tell your stories to each other, to share a meal together, to hug each other, and really just to love with everything you’ve got. He is remembered by his family—Camille, Pio and his wife, Nicole, their children, Max and Jeanne, and Reine, and her son Jacob. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Visitation and Memorial Service for Paul at L. A. Muhleisen & Son Funeral Home, 2607 Williams Blvd., Kenner on Monday, November 29, 2021. Visitation from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. followed by a brief Memorial Service at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org To share memories or condolences, please visit www.muhleisen.com

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Paul Joseph Dugas

August 10, 1938 - November 21, 2021