Ashley Elizabeth Harper

The lovely soul of Ashley Elizabeth Harper, a Baton Rouge native and resident of New Orleans, Louisiana, left us suddenly on June 1, 2015. Ashley, 27, was born on April 7, 1988 to her loving parents, Lori Wegener Harper and Paul Conway Harper. Ashley was a 2006 graduate of St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge and a 2014 graduate of the LSU Shreveport School of Allied Health Professionals. She had just begun her career as an Occupational Therapist at Oschner Medical Center in New Orleans. Ashley devoted her life and love to others, both in her professional and personal life. While at LSU, Ashley helped develop community gardens for downtown Shreveport residents who lacked access to fresh fruit and vegetables. It was this selfless nature and caring demeanor that made Ashley truly a one of a kind person. She was actively involved in the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc. and proudly represented the student delegates at their annual meeting in Nashville, TN. Ashley loved life, animals and celebrating her New Orleans heritage, but most of all Ashley loved her family and friends, especially her little brother Paul, Jr., who she adoringly referred to as "Bubba" as well as her recent time living with her grandparents Hildrith and Sara Wegener or "Granny and Grampy" as she lovingly called them. No one can put into words how much Ashley will be missed, but the impact of her absence will be felt by all. Ashley will be remembered for her devotion to family, her boisterous laugh, the giant dimpled smile that she was constantly showing and her wonderfully quirky and funny nature that impacted everyone's lives. Ashley is survived by her mother, Lori Wegener Harper, father, Paul Conway Harper, her brother and best friend, Paul Conway Harper, Jr., as well as her maternal grandparents, Sara and Hildrith Wegener of New Orleans, and her paternal grandmother, Anita Harper of Baton Rouge. She is also survived by her uncles and aunts, Hildrith Wegener III and Robin of Mandeville, Louisiana, Staci Wegener Scallon and Greg of Mandeville, Louisiana, and Juli Wegener Blackwell and Lee of Metairie, Louisiana, Anita Harper Muse&Michael, of the Woodlands, TX and Jennifer Harper DuPlessis of New Orleans, LA, her cousins, Lauren and Kristen Wegener, Catherine and Elizabeth Scallon and godson Collin Blackwell, Erica, Emily and Ella Muse, Abigail, Elise and Joshua DuPlessis as well as countless other family members and friends. She is preceded in death by her paternal grandfather William "Bill" Harper and her Uncle William Harper, Jr. Services will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home 825 Government St. Baton Rouge, LA on Friday, June 5th from 5:00pm "“ 9:00pm and resume on Saturday, June 6th at 10:00am at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, 2025 Stuart Avenue, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00am. She will be laid to eternal rest at Resthaven Cemetery, 11817 Jefferson Highway. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made on Ashley's behalf to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or your most treasured cause. "In the end it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years." May her soul rest in peace.