Obituary: Esther “Faye” (Bordelon) Winslow

Esther “Faye” (Bordelon) Winslow peacefully went to be with her Lord in Heaven on April 14, 2023, where she is reunited with her beloved husband of almost 60 years (Carl) after a brief 3 ½ month separation. She is survived by three children, Carol Branning (Kurt), Steven Winslow (Sondra) and Veronica Coleman (Dawayne), six grandchildren (and spouses) and four great-grandchildren.

Born February 11, 1936, in Lake Charles, Louisiana to Henry Hamilton Bordelon and Annie Esther (Lyons) Bordelon, Faye was the youngest of six children, Kathleen, Marian, Alma Lee, Henry Jr. and William “Billy”, all deceased. Born into a Catholic family, Faye began attending Trinity Baptist Church as a young girl due to the influence of her oldest sister. Eventually, the entire family would worship together every Sunday occupying the “Bordelon pew” at Trinity. Faye became a Christian at the age of 10 and was later baptized there.

Faye completed her schooling in Lake Charles graduating from Central Elementary School, Lake Charles High School and McNeese State University. After graduation from McNeese, Faye began her career in Education teaching young children to read and write. During her summer breaks from teaching, she earned her master’s degree in education from LSU…Geaux Tigers! After four years of teaching in Lake Charles, Faye moved out west with her friend to Tucson, Arizona, for better paying positions. It was in Tucson where she met Carl Winslow, the man she would eventually marry.

Faye married Carl in December of 1963 and immediately started a family. They welcomed a daughter, Carol Faye, in October of 1964 and a son, Steven Paul in May, of 1966. The family of four lived in Tucson for eight years before learning of a little four-year-old girl that needed a home. Carl and Faye opened their hearts and home to that little girl, Veronica Lee, and made her a permanent member of their family. After two more years in Tucson, the family of five moved to Williams, Arizona where Carl had been transferred. After staying at home to raise her family, Faye updated her credentials and returned to teaching. She was hired by the Williams School District to teach First Grade…a career she would eventually retire from 13 years later.

While in Williams at First Baptist Church, Faye taught Sunday School classes for young children. As her own children were nearing high school age, she felt called with her husband to start a program for the youth in Williams. Together, they started “Rec Night” where Faye spent every Friday night in the church kitchen keeping the popcorn and Kool-Aid flowing for the up to 50 high schoolers who would come to play games, eat snacks and hear the Word of God.

After her children moved to Phoenix to attend college, Carl and Faye retired and built a home in Phoenix where they would spend their winters. They immediately joined Hillside Southern Baptist Church and were active in the choir and Senior Adult ministries. Faye’s favorite thing to do in life was to spend time with her families…both at church and at home. At the time of her passing, her family included her three children and their spouses, six grandchildren (and two spouses): Jaclyn (Charlie), Michael (Jaimie), Ryan, Kaden, Alejandra and Anna; and four great grandchildren: Carson, Samuel, Jacob and Lucas.

A service celebrating Faye’s life will be held Saturday, April 22nd at 10 a.m. at Hillside Baptist Church, 1344 W. Thunderbird Rd Phoenix, AZ 85023.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Hillside Baptist Church.