Brenda Starr Cauley Breath

On the evening of May 11, 2024, Brenda “Starr” Cauley Breath passed away peacefully at St. Tammany Parish Hospital at the age of 71.  
Starr was born in Dallas, Texas to Donald and Sally Cauley. As a young girl, the family moved to Jacksonville, Florida and a few years later to Metairie, Louisiana, finally settling in Kenner, Louisiana, where Starr graduated from Grace King High School in 1970.  It was during her high
school years that Starr met the love of her life, Gil Breath, who drove a new red roadster and won her heart. Starr and Gil married on July 28, 1970, beginning their journey of 53 years together.  

The journey took them across the country, living in the New Orleans area (including Metairie, Kenner, and Destrehan, Louisiana) then to Huntersville, North Carolina for Starr to continue working as the Vice President for Royal Insurance.  

Starr and Gil were blessed by the arrival of their two children, daughter Darbi in 1971 and son Ken in 1976, both who continuously debate who was her favorite. As a mom, Starr loved to watch her kids participate in various activities and sports. Witnessing both Darbi and Ken receive their college degrees gave Starr a tremendous amount of pride.  

Starr inherited her mother Sally’s artistic talents, especially as a painter. She created amazingly detailed ceramic pieces then later she and Gil painted and sold woodworking crafts across the state.  

Becoming a grandmother (Mimi) was one of her greatest joys in life, spoiling her four grandchildren Pike and Parker Philibert and Carter and Rylan Breath. Starr traveled across the county to visit each one of them for every birthday, bearing perfectly wrapped gifts. As with her own children, Starr relished the opportunity to watch her grandkids play sports. Given the opportunity, it didn’t take long for her to provide the latest updates and share the many accolades of her grandchildren.  

Upon retirement, Starr and Gil moved back to Ponchatoula, Louisiana, where she enjoyed decorating her home, gardening, and reading by the pool. She was never without her iPad, Kindle, sweet tea or cigarette case. She loved hosting family on the weekends to hang out by
their pool and sharing many of her family’s dishes. She also loved the beach and, if the beach was located near a casino, even better. She never
met a casino she didn't like. Slot machines were her favorite, swearing that if she could just play a little longer, the big payoff was coming! When getting together with her younger siblings Mike and Sharon, they always reminisced and laughed about how their “Big Sis” made them cover for
her when she snuck out of the house and threatened them if they snitched. While she could be intimidating, they all agreed that she was an amazing, smart, and generous sister. Not afraid to try something new and add to life’s adventure, Starr was determined that she and
Gil should experience living the “RV life”, so they sold their home in December of 2022 and traveled the country visiting both friends and family while seeing the countryside.  

Throughout her life, Starr had many health issues, beating breast cancer, kidney cancer, and lung cancer. She made the decision to stop smoking at the age of 70, commenting that she “never felt better”. However, her lungs became unable to sustain her. She passed peacefully
with her siblings, children and grandchildren by her side.

She is survived by her devoted husband Gilbert Joseph Breath, Jr., daughter Darbi (husband Rik Philibert) and son Ken, grandchildren Pike and Parker Philibert, Carter and Rylan Breath, brother Michael Cauley (Cheryl), and sister Sharon (husband Ron West). Starr was preceded in
death by her parents, Sally and Donald Cauley.  

Starr was adamant about not having any memorial services, hoping that everyone would remember the great memories they had together. She requested that her family spread her ashes on the beaches in Aruba, where they spent every Thanksgiving. She was loved dearly and will be
deeply missed.

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