Ely (Espiritu) Catolos

Ely Espiritu Catolos, 101 years old, of New Orleans, Louisiana and a former resident of St. Bernard Parish prior to Hurricane Katrina, passed away on August 3, 2025 at home. Ely is survived by her children, Cherrie Harrison (Michael), Agnes Letulle (Stephen), and Cecil Catolos Jr.; by her grandchildren Michael Harrison Jr (Laurie), Thomas Harrison, Richard Letulle (Brianna) and great-grandchildren, Michael Harrison III and John Harrison; and Isabelle Letulle; and by her brother, Jose Espiritu. She was married to the late Cecil P Catolos. She also leaves behind many nephews, nieces, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Fausto and Rosa Espiritu, siblings Nestor, Adelaida, Jaime, Pedro, Ernesto, Felino, Rosario, Romeo, Rodora, Edgardo, Napoleon and Rosalina.

Ely gracefully assumed multiple roles throughout her life. Ely was born and raised in Tanay, Rizal, Philippines. She graduated from Far Eastern University with a Bachelor of Science and worked as a schoolteacher. She came to the United States in 1958. She enrolled at the University of New Orleans, while working at D.H. Holmes Department store in the 1960’s. She realized that she could go into business for herself and provide items sorely missed by local Filipinos. In 1971, she began importing Philippine handicrafts such as wood-carvings, items of clothing, puka-shell art, and jewelry. Soon, she had a stall at the French Market in the section we know as the flea market. She established a store in the French Quarter selling New Orleans souvenirs, Filipino crafts, and Filipino foods. No one advertised her cooking, but word of mouth traveled far and every weekend there would be people lining up wanting to eat. She finally moved her business to the warehouse district. This location was smaller and provided her space to promote the Filipino culture and her labor of love of cooking adobe, pancit, and lumpia for all.

She worked hard all her life and encouraged not only her children and grandchildren to do so but others. Proudly, she was able to attend all of her children’s and grandchildren’s college graduations. Later in life, she was able to see the fruits of her labor in the faces in those she loved and cherished. Ely had many roles in life, from loving sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, to schoolteacher, businesswoman/entrepreneur. She was known as Aling Ely to the Filipino community. She will be forever missed by all who knew her.