Ella Marie Bourgeois Morello

She is survived by her three precious gems Gina Morello Huguet (Tracy), Ann ”Rere” Worthy (Ray), and Yvonne Mancheski (Jeremy). Her grandkids were truly the highlight of her life; they are Reed and Nolan Huguet, Grace Elizabeth Worthy, and Molly and Max Mancheski.

She was previously married to John Morello. She was preceded in death by her parents Ovide J. Bourgeois Sr. and Ella Marie Veron Bourgeois.

Ella was born on January 31, 1940. She was the last of 12 children of the Bourgeois family from the Irish Channel. She is survived by her siblings Donald Bourgeois, Edward Bourgeois, Owen Bourgeois, Blanche Lovecchio, Rosemary Bukaski, Yvonne Adams, Sylvia Bartholomew and the late Ovide Bourgeois Jr., Robert Bourgeois, Carolyn Schlosser and Carl Bourgeois. She was loved dearly by her 49 nieces and nephews and her 97 great-nieces and nephews who affectionately called her “Aunt Reetsie.”

Ella was a lifelong resident of New Orleans. She attended St. Alphonsus grammar school and Redemptorist High School. She was a true New Orleanian. She loved everything about the city including the food, the culture, Mardi Gras, and the Saints.

She adored her grandkids and loved to make them laugh. She was never at a loss for words and loved to talk. She loved the fact that she was a “Bourgeois” and that she came from a large family. She made it a point to know all of her nieces and nephews – despite the large number of them. She never forgot a birthday and always made special phone calls especially to her godchildren on their birthdays – Dawn, Brad, Glenn, Cynthia and Joy.

The family would like to recognize her two sister-in-laws that were very special to her – Jessie and Brenda.

In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Friends of St. Alphonsus P. O. Box 57143 New Orleans, LA 70157.

Relatives and friends of the family are welcome to attend the mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am on Monday January 21, 2013 at St. Mary’s Assumption Church 923 Josephine St. (at Constance St.). Visitation will begin at 9:00 am at St. Mary’s. Interment will follow Greenwood Cemetery 5200 Canal Blvd. Condolences may be expressed online at www.schoencanalstreet.com.