Lydia Catherine Spann Neustrom, 69, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at The Crossing at Clarity Hospice in Baton Rouge, LA. She was surrounded by loved ones on her last day as well as during the entirety of her life. Born in Baton Rouge, LA on August 8, 1954, Lydia led a fulfilling life dedicated to her family and friends. The third in a line of Lydias, she was named after her mother and maternal grandmother. Her father called her Lydi-Cat, her siblings called her Lyd, her children called her Mom, her grandchildren called her Gama, and her many friends called her a blessing. Lydia graduated from Robert E Lee High School…A Class of 1972 Rebel… and attended LSU. She was a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, but loved to call the state of Maine her second home. She was blessed to be surrounded by friends and family at all stages of her life. Her Meadow Lea subdivision friends such as the Simmons girls, Carol and Jan, and Kathy Weimer provided Lydia with much joy during her formative years.Lifelong high school relationships with Terry Mestayer Parker and Vivian Sevier Boesch were treasured by Lydia and they both traveled to Baton Rouge so they could be by her side until the very end. Her dear Maine friend, Vaughn Gray, maintained a loving friendship throughout their lives and her “Pokeno” sisters were a source of constant joy. She married the love her life, and consummate caretaker, David Neustrom, in December 1977. They raised three boys and developed friendships through the boys’ various sporting activities, including with Armando and Jennifer Villa, Scotty and Ann Caballero, and Mike and Andrea Fournet. Her career was spent in the financial service and real estate industry. She formed lasting friendships and made cherished memories with colleagues at Louisiana National Bank (LNB, Premier Bancorp, Bank One, Chase), Resource One Mortgage, Louisiana Real Estate Mortgage, and JT Doiron. She was beloved by family and friends and is known to have never met a stranger. She had the unique ability to treat everyone she met with love and affection. She is survived by numerous loved ones including her mother, Lydia “Diane” Grant, stepmother, Herta Spann, her loving husband, David Neustrom, three boys and their spouses, Jordan Neustrom (Mariel), Ethan Neustrom (Allison), Ryan Neustrom (Michelle), grandchildren, Blaise, Nora, Caden, Chandler, uncles, Thomas Gillette (Delph), Asa Smith (Jane), Alden “Aldie” Smith (Marlena), siblings, William “Bill” Spann, Jr (Janie), Ronnie Spann (Sheryl), Kate Seba (David), Chris Grant (Cindy), Edward Grant, III, James “Jim” Grant (Margaret), in-laws, Michael Neustrom (Ceci), Theresa Strojny (Roger), Duane Neustrom (Theresa), nieces/nephews, William “Will” Spann, III (Katie), Kellie Tunnard (Chad), Sharon Poirrier (Gary), Sarah Yee (Jason) Jesse Naquin (Matt), Emily Seba, Sophie Seba, Andrew Seba, Alyssa Neitzert (Carl), Hayden Grant, Adam Grant, Kimberly Neustrom, Vanessa Neustrom (Joe Tarlton), Benjamin Neustrom, Thomas Neustrom (Lynne), Joseph Kishbaugh, Stephen Strojny (Alison), John Strojny (Morgan), Kelli Sonner (Justin), Brian Neustrom (Teagan), Kate Bishop (Brennan), Mary Neustrom, Patrick Neustrom, cousins, Benny Spann (Pat), Bobby Spann (Connie), Baxter Spann (Patty), Grey Spann, Sheryl Spann, Baxter Gillette (Janina), and Cheryl Calamia. Her welcome party in heaven includes her father, William Spann, stepfather, Edward “Ed” Grant, Jr, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Barbara Neustrom (Owen), grandparents, Benjamin Spann (Margaret), Lydia “Gama” MacDonald (Judge Paul MacDonald, RADM Claude Gillette, Raymond Durney, Alden Smith), aunts/uncles Delroy Spann (Marion), Benjamin “Leo” Spann, Jr (Celeste), Louis Spann (Gene), brother-in-law, William “Billy” Neustrom, cousin, Chris Gillette, precious loving niece, Alison Neustrom, and friends, Coach Armando Villa, Vaughn Gray, etc. The family wishes to thank everyone for the outpouring of support throughout the years and her medical care teams for their compassionate care of Lydia, including all nurses and staff at the following: The Rehabilitation Center at Our Lady of the Lake, Baton Rouge General - Mid City Inpatient Rehab & Therapy (Dr DeWitt), Baton Rouge General - Bluebonnet (Dr Reddy), The Baton Rouge Clinic (Drs Greeson, Cauble, etc.), and most recently the care team at Pinnacle Hospice and The Crossing at Clarity Hospice. A memorial gathering will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home Downtown on Saturday, May 4, 2024 from 10:00 am until services begin at 12:00 pm. A reception at Rabenhorst Funeral Home will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Kiwanis Club of Baton Rouge, P.O. Box 1062, Baton Rouge, LA 70821.
