Kathleen Bourdet Shields

Kathleen was born in New Orleans on October 17, 1934 to William Mounce Bourdet and Loretta Rouse Bourdet. She and her sister Marilyn grew up in a little shot-gun house on Oak Street and they walked to Mater Dolorosa School, where Kathleen’s love for music began. Kathleen graduated from St. Joseph High School with special accreditation from The University of Washington D.C. She then attended Loyola University of New Orleans where she made life-long friends.

In 1959 Kathleen married John Shields, Jr. The couple moved to Terrytown where they welcomed son Sean and daughter Kelley. Kathleen and Johnny were supportive of their new community and were very involved in their church.

Kathleen began singing Latin at Mass as a school girl at Mater Dolorosa in the 1940s. Her love of music continued as she served at churches all over the New Orleans area with her husband Johnny. Wherever there was a need, Kathleen filled that need with her beautiful voice and talent. Her desire to serve was so tremendous that she taught herself to play a 12-string guitar and with no formal training, she served at the Magnificat Breakfasts, at St. Anthony Church in Gretna, and at the Center of Jesus of the Lord. At Christ the King Church in Terrytown, Kathleen served in many capacities; she taught CCD classes, was a lector at masses, and was part of the founding of the King’s Elders. She played guitar with the Christ the King Hispanic community and served as the choir director of the Troubadours of the King for many years. Glorifying God through Music was Kathleen’s motto. When lessons in guitar were offered at Christ the King, Kathleen was there teaching. She never turned down an opportunity to serve, and played for many prayer meetings, Confirmations, weddings and funerals. In recognition for her service, she was awarded the Order of St. Louis medal from the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 1990.

Kathleen never met a stranger. She was loaded with wit and charm and her charisma drew people to her. She was very active in the Terrytown, Gretna and Marrero Senior centers where she loved to line dance and socialize with her friends.

Kathleen was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 59 years, Johnny Shields. She is survived by her son Sean Anthony Shields and daughter Kelley Shields Keeney (Neil). She is also survived by her grandchildren, Sean Shields, Jr. (Celeste), Ian Shields (Oanh), Kathryn Caldwell, Rosary Shields and Joseph Caldwell and great grandchildren Madyson, Ava, Benjamin, Johnny and Ian, Jr. She is also survived by her sister, Marilyn Bourdet Martinez, her dear cousin David Bullock, her nieces Lisa Martinez Marshall, Christie Martinez Susslin, nephew William Martinez as well as many other family and friends.

She was always the Good Samaritan and God’s faithful servant. We are all so proud of our mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend and we feel so blessed to have had her in our lives.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 1:30PM on Thursday, August 19th, 2021 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 535 Deerfield Road in Terrytown, Louisiana. The Mass will be officiated by Father Jose Lavastida. A visitation will begin at 12:30PM and continue until the Mass. Interment will follow at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Gretna, Louisiana. The family is requesting that everyone attending, please wear facial coverings and observe social distancing practices. In lieu of flowers, masses are preferred, or please consider donations in Kathleen's name to Christ the King Catholic Church, or St. Joseph Indian School of South Dakota at www.stjo.org.

Ms. Kathleen's Funeral Mass will be livestreamed through RobertoMusic.org/kathleen-shields beginning at 1:30PM.