Doris Louise Parenteau Sargent

Doris (Fontaine Parenteau) Sargent passed away peacefully on March 27, 2024, at home in Long Beach CA, with her family around her. The viewing will be on April 12th from 3-7pm and the celebration of life will be on April 13th at 11:30 am at the Luyben Dilday Mortuary in Long Beach, California.

Doris was born February 22, 1927, in Proctor Minnesota to William and Blanche (Picard) Fontaine. Her mother died when she was 10 years old, and her father placed her and her 2 brothers in an orphanage in Duluth until he remarried 2 years later. She graduated from Cloquet High School in 1944. The highlight of her teen years was joining the Glee Club, appearing in the Jr. Class Play and working at the local movie theaters. After graduating she worked in the local match factory until she married Calvin C Parenteau at the age of 19. They were married for 27 years.

They moved to California in 1946, where she sang with local big bands, trios, and local union musicians. It was during this period she did special armed forces shows with Skinny Ennis and his band. This led to theater work, summer stock with William Talman of the Perry Mason shows and she joined a musical stock Co. She also did dinner theaters and appeared on a TV series on ABC.

She had 3 children- Nanette, Tina, and John. Doris loved being a mother. She became involved in church work, little league and had one of the best Campfire groups in Long Beach. Doris and a friend of hers started a teen group doing charity work for the community. She was also a foster parent.

Doris had performed on stage since she was 4 years old singing and acting. She was one of the founding members of the “Off Broadway Theater’ in Long Beach and performed in several musicals there. She also appeared several times at the LB Community Playhouse and was nominated for an award for her role as Maud in “Captains Paradise.” She sang with Union musicians in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Orange County, San Diego, Temecula, and Corvallis OR. She also had her own T.V. show when she lived in Laguna Woods, interviewing famous people who lived there. She was also the female vocalist with The Silver Tones in Laguna Woods. Doris was also one of ten people chosen for a TV pilot called Senior Class.

She was chosen by Beverly O’Neil to work as a counselor at the new Womens Center she was starting at the PCC campus of LBCC. She worked there until she was hired to be the Building and Events coordinator at the new Student Center on the LAC Campus.

She also used her talents and gave lectures on Palmistry, sang with the student Jazz Band, modeled for the faculty wife's presentation and was a judge for student activities and coordinated luncheons for college and community affairs.

In 1973 she became a single parent and after 11 years met and married George Sargent, who had retired from the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon. George had 2 children, Wayne, and Susan, who blended well with the family. They lived in San Diego for 5 years, moved to Temecula for 5 years, then moved to Corvallis Oregon. After 7 years there they were planning to move to Henderson NV when George passed away, so Doris moved to Laguna Woods to be closer to her children. After 14 years she moved back to Long Beach and lived in Bixby Towers until covid hit and she moved in with her daughter, Tina. It was a special time for both mother and daughter to be together.

She was a warm and loving woman, mom, grandma, great grandmother, and friend who anyone could talk to about anything. She was always very accepting of others. She was a blessing to have as a mother for 97 years. She was like a ray of sunshine.

She passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family. She will be missed but we know she is singing and entertaining up in Heaven.

Doris is survived by her children Nanette Woodall of Ellensburg WA; Tina Conant of Long Beach CA; John Parenteau of Long Beach CA; stepchildren Wayne (Sue) Sargent of Tucson AZ; and Susan (Manuel) Osorio of Prundale CA. 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren and 1 sister.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William (Blanche) Fontaine, husband George Sargent, her ex-husband Calvin Parenteau, her grandchildren, Michael Woodall and Holly Conant, her sons-in-law, Robert Woodall, and David Moh, 2 brothers and 4 sisters.

She was dearly loved and will be deeply missed.