Lizzie Mae Hernandez

Lizzie Mae Temple Hernandez

Lizzie Mae Temple Hernandez went home to our Lord and Savior on Sunday, December 27, at the age of 95 years, 6 months, and 4 days old. Mae peacefully drew her final earthly breath in her home at 9:54 p.m. while surrounded by loved ones. Tears may have flowed abundantly here on earth, but we know there was a celebration in heaven as our Mae danced her way into the arms of so many who have gone to heaven ahead of her, and who we know were anxiously awaiting her arrival.

Visitation will take place from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, December 29, at Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe, Louisiana. A service to celebrate her life will be held at Mulhearn Funeral Home in Monroe, Louisiana, on Wednesday, December 30, at 2 p.m., with burial immediately following at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe.

Mae was born to Green Irvin Temple and Vinnie Mae Temple (née Moore) on June 23, 1925. Her mother, Vinnie, passed away while bringing her sweet Mae into this world, and we know that their heavenly reunion was the sweetest because Vinnie Mae was finally able to embrace her first and only child. Her paternal grandparents, Elijah and Mary Eliza Temple, raised Mae and she loved them as her parents. However, she maintained a special relationship with her father, Irvin, stepmother, Flossie, and the many wonderful brothers and sisters they gave to her as well. Reared in Rayville, Louisiana, she spent plenty of time in the family cotton fields; picking cotton until her fingers bled and learning the meaning of hard work, determination, and true grit.

Mae met her husband, Pete, in 1946, and they were married on Christmas Eve of the same year. To their union was born three daughters who they adored- Dolores, Debra, and Michelle. Together, they opened Pete's Coney Island and served our community the most delicious hot tamales, chili cheeseburgers, chili cheese dogs, and many other delicious treats. It was there that many special friendships were formed with their customers, who would stop in to not only treat themselves to some of the best food around, but also to great conversations and many laughs with Pete and Mae.

In addition to being a dedicated and loving daughter, sister, wife, and mother, Mae was also the best grandmother to her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great, great-grandchildren. Each of them shares such fond memories of their Mawmaw; from sleepovers and prank playing, to having their morning coffee together and laughing until their bellies hurt.

In her spare time, Mae loved tending to her flower beds while she was still able to do so. Watching her beautiful azaleas and rose bushes bloom year after year brought her immense joy. She also enjoyed dancing, singing karaoke, playing card games while visiting with the many guests to her home, playing the harmonica, socializing with her Red Hat ladies, or doing anything that would bring laughter and pleasure to those around her. She had a knack for making everyone who encountered her feel special and loved, she was always putting others before herself. Throughout her entire life, she held an unwavering faith in God, which she shared with those she loved. She enjoyed singing in the choir of McClendon Baptist Church and fellowshipping with the ladies in her Sunday School class.

Mae joins many loved ones in Heaven- her parents, grandparents, several siblings, aunts, uncles, special cousins, son-in-law, Bob Arant, and many friends who have gone before her. She is survived by her three daughters, Dolores Arant, Debbie Watson (Donald), and Michelle Spillers (Jerry); seven grandchildren, Darren Arant (Stephanie), Suzette Hill (Marshall), Pete Joshua Rea (Christi), Stormy Jordan (Jason), Dana Craft (Brandon), Justin Cascio (Laura), Jeremy Spillers (Jen); fourteen great-grandchildren, three great-great-grandchildren, her remaining brothers and sisters, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins who were all so incredibly special to her. They will feel her absence immensely but take comfort in the fact that this is not “goodbye”, but rather... “See you later”!

Her grandsons, Darren Arant, Pete Joshua Rea, Justin Cascio, Jeremy Spillers, and great-grandsons, Zachary Hill and Reid Arant, will have the special honor of serving as her pallbearers, with great-grandsons, Jackson Hill and Walker Craft, serving as honorary pallbearers.

Her family would like to thank the special caregivers who have assisted them in giving Mae the best care possible while in the comfort of her home over the last two years. Their love and support were appreciated by all.

For we know that when this tent we live in now is taken down- when we die and leave these bodies-we will have wonderful new bodies in heaven, homes that will be ours forevermore, made for us by God himself, and not by human hands. How weary we grow of our present bodies. That is why we look forward eagerly to the day when we shall have heavenly bodies which we shall put on like new clothes. For we shall not be merely spirits without bodies. These earthly bodies make us groan and sigh, but we wouldn’t like to think of dying and having no bodies at all. We want to slip into our new bodies so that these dying bodies will, as it were, be swallowed up by everlasting life. This is what God has prepared for us and, as a guarantee, he has given us his Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 5 1-7