Louise Alice Lemaire

Louise is survived by her children Ruby Ann LeBlanc (Donald) and Greg Joseph Laffauillere, her grandchildren Stacie Daigle, Chad LeBlanc (Kelly), Holly Reiss (Brian), and Greg Ingrivaglia. Also left to cherish her memory are her great-grandchildren Ricky Daigle, Jr., Savannah Reiss, Noah Daigle, Caleb Reiss, Greg Ingrivaglia, Jr., Brenna LeBlanc, and Raegan LeBlanc. She is also survived by countless friends and neighbors.

Louise is preceded in death by her wonderful husband Andrew J. Lemaire, cherished son John Pete Laffauillere III, her beloved sisters Raemary Smith and June Smith, and her parents Robert Smith and Marion Wood. Also preceded in death by Ricky Daigle, beloved husband of her first grandchild Stacie, and her childhood friends Leon “Dut” and Dorothy “Dot” Dejean.

Louise Alice Smith was born on October 27, 1936, at her family’s home in New Orleans, LA. She married John Pete Laffauillere, Jr. October 29, 1955, and together they raised three children in a traditional shotgun house on the outskirts of the French Quarter. They spent their days fishing, cooking, and sharing her love of both with her many family members, friends, and neighbors. Tragically, she lost her oldest son unexpectedly at the tender age of 18. Many would have given up after the loss of a child, but not she! Maw Maw was the very definition of the family matriarch. Steadfast and strong, she continued to share her talents as a wonderful cook with her surviving children and later, her grandchildren. Whomever had the good fortune to know her was guaranteed a warm smile and always greeted with the words “Are you hungry?”

She was a lifelong fisherwoman, taking great pride in the catching as well as the cleanup. In fact, watching her clean fish was like watching an artist paint! She found the love of her life in the early 1980’s, a mechanic with a heart of gold whom the family affectionately called “Mr. Jay.” While they were only on this earth together a short time, their days together were filled with love. He was a wonderful grandfather, and many times Maw Maw would bring her grandchildren to City Park to visit him while he worked. He made sure the historical carousel “lost it’s stop button” and would keep the ride going for hours! There were countless memories of warm summer days spent fishing, watching Maw Maw clean fish with the precision of a surgeon, her late-night hamburgers, legendary gigantic plate size pancakes, and eating orange slices candy while watching wrestling and the evening news together in their Lake Catherine home. She and Mr. Jay are surely reunited joyously in heaven now.

Later in life, she worked as a nurse’s aide, earned her CNA certificate, and continuing her lifelong service to others. She was a dedicated Saints Fan, and just as dedicated casino patron. In fact, when the Saints were not playing, she was often found at the Island View Casino “getting her money back.” She loved all living creatures. However, she had a special place in her heart for cats. Her family loved to joke that her cats were the most well cared for in the parish! Post-Saints game talks will never be the same without her. As the famous poet Maya Angelou once said:

“A great soul serves everyone all the time. A great soul never dies. It brings us together again and again.”

Her family would like to thank the dedicated staff of St. Tammany Hospital ICU. Additionally, her family sends sincere gratitude to Apex Home Health Care (Samantha) and St. Tammany Hospice (Lisa, Dee, Michelle and Ann).

Services will be held privately by the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Louise may be made to the Autism Society of Greater New Orleans or the Northshore Humane Society.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.gracenorthshore.com for the Lemaire family.