L E G A C Y T R I B U T E
RACONTEUR SPOTLIGHT GLORIA LANDRY WIGGINS / WORLD TRAVELER
Let’s Go by Olivia Savoie
G
loria Landry Wiggins was born in 1927 and raised in Delcambre, Louisiana. After graduating from high school in 1944, she attended and graduated from SLI (presently the University of Louisiana at Lafayette). There, she met her husband, Pervis Wiggins, just after he returned from serving in World War II. They wed in 1949.
“First I went to different states, then on cruises,” she says. Over the years, she has been on about 20 cruises and has visited 44 states—many on multiple occasions in order to visit different sites. She has also found herself in 18 European countries, eight providences of Canada, and numerous islands.
The small-town girl left home for a while, living in Covington, Paradis, and Rayville, Louisiana. After several years passed and four children came onto the scene, she and her husband hoped to return to her hometown.
Most often, Gloria traveled with friends. One great travel companion was her friend Grace Guidry, among many others. When asked if she ever dreamed she would possibly visit so many places, Gloria laughs and says, “It just happened! When someone would call and say, ‘Let’s go,’ I was ready.”
There, Gloria welcomed a fifth child, taught home economics, and faced the greatest challenge of her life—raising her children alone, after her husband passed away in 1970. From an early age, Gloria had the itch to travel. But, having a big family and a teaching career kept her firmly planted in Acadiana for many years. That is, until she retired in 1983. Beginning in her 50s, she began to travel and travel extensively. Even in her 90s, she has yet to slow down altogether. According to Gloria, “I don’t think it is ever too late to travel. Travel as long as you are able.”
30
Gloria can’t choose a very favorite trip but feels that she especially loved mountain or beach views. She says, “All of my trips were memorable and educational. I particularly loved the Mediterranean and Scandinavian cruises.” During the Mediterranean cruise, she visited France, Greece, Italy, Morocco, and Portugal. During the Scandinavian Cruise, she visited Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Russia, and Sweden. She says, “I was surprised to go to Russia. I just never thought I’d go.”
Ever since retirement, Gloria has been off to see the world. She started with daytrips to nearby towns, which she enjoyed, saying, “There are so many wonderful places not far from home to travel to.”
Other exceptionally memorable experiences occurred in France. Gloria fell in love with the French people and has returned after her initial visit. When the town of Sunset, Louisiana participated in a sister-city program with a small town in France, she journeyed with some friends from Sunset to enjoy the cultural exchange.
She also orchestrated family trips at beach-front condos in both Mississippi and Florida, inviting her children and their family along. Soon, she ventured farther and farther.
There, they all stayed in the homes of locals, which Gloria loved. “You got to know the people, and they were so good and did so much for us.” 337M A GA ZIN E.C O M
V O L U ME 6 I S S U E 1
