Gayle Frances Wurzlow M.D. Ehrensing

Gayle Frances Wurzlow M.D. Ehrensing, retired psychiatrist and wife of Rudolph H. Ehrensing, M.D., died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones on April 7, 2018. She is survived by Eric R Ehrensing, M.D. (Sarah Laborde), Craig A. Ehrensing, M.D. (Elizabeth Mears), Sara Ehrensing Fernandez, M.D. (Mark), and Amelie Ehrensing Black (Johnny). Grandmother of Christian, John Emory, Evan, William, Elaine Marie Ehrensing, Claire and Andrew Fernandez, John Louis Black and Madeleine Odette Black.

Born in Houma, Louisiana on July 24, 1940. Only child of William August Wurzlow and Odette Cenac Wurzlow. Her great grandfathers, Jean -Pierre Cenac, Wilhelm A. Wurzlow, and Felix Sylvestre M.D. were early pioneers in development of Terrebonne Parish and the City of Houma. At age 9, after her father’s death, Gayle and her mother moved into her grandfather's home, Albert Cenac, where she grew up. Her mother, Odette was his 11 th of 13 children. From an early age she observed family dynamics which later helped her in her career of psychiatry. She attended Marianites of the Holy Cross, St. Francis De Sales School for 12 years, graduating in the class of 1957. She was editor of the year book during her senior year, voted the Most Talented and received the American Legion Award.

From 1957 to 1961, she attended Loyola University where she was elected to Cardinal Key Honor Society, Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society, Medical Technology Honor Society, Beta Epislon Upislon Honor Society. She received the honor award for highest average in medical technology. She was president of the med tech club. She graduated cum laude with a BS in medical technology and was named Who’s Who in America Colleges and Universities.

In 1961-1965, she attended LSU Medical School In New Orleans. She was one of the first women from Terrebonne Parish to attend medical school. She was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. Upon graduation, she received the pathology and pediatric awards and was ranked second in her class of 118 individuals (18 women). She interned in internal medicine from 1965-1966 at University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, Virginia. On April 8, 1967, she married Rudolph H. Ehrensing, M.D. whom she met on the first day of medical school. They then moved to New York City. They both were residents in psychiatry at Cornell University/Payne Whitney Clinic. During her time in New York, Gayle developed an interest in Maria Montessori Education and early childhood development. During the Vietnam War, her husband was stationed at Fort Rucker in Dothan Alabama from 1969 to 1971. In Alabama, she was involved in community psychiatry. She was the only psychiatrist available for 12 counties for community mental health. Upon return to New Orleans in 1971, she continued her work in community mental health in New Orleans and St. Tammany Parish. After 16 years of practice, when her youngest child went to high school, she returned to complete her formal residency requirements at Ochsner Clinic. She became Board Certified in Psychiatry and Neurology in 1994. She then practiced psychiatry at Ochsner Clinic for the next 20 years.

Gayle was involved in Sr. Mary Frances Borgia O.P.‘s Montessori school, Our Lady of Elms where her 4 children attended for many years. Gayle was an artist. She took painting and sculpture lessons from Carl Cramer in the French Quarter in the 1980’s. She did a life size sculpture of her youngest child, Amelie, which was cast in bronze. She also loved to cook and garden. In 1984, she published a cook book, New Orleans Neighborhood Cooking with Magda Geeker Pelias, her neighbor since moving to New Orleans in 1971. The porch of her house and gardens was featured on the cover of the March 2016 issue of Southern Living.

Gayle says, "I thank all of my family and friends for the unconditional love that they have given me throughout the years, especially my mother and husband, Rudolph. I thank God who guided me my whole life."

Relatives and friends are invited to attend an evening visitation at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70124 on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church , 631 State St. New Orleans, LA 70118 on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. with visitation at church beginning at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow at Metairie Cemetery.

Gayle loved flowers.