Juanita T. Pradel

Juanita Till Pradel, an active civic leader, died on July 23, 2016 in uptown, New Orleans; she was 95 years old. Mrs. Pradel was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and lived there all of her life. She was a graduate of Soule College and the University College of Tulane, Louisiana, as well as the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York City, which prepared her for a successful career in fashion, public relations and marketing. Early in her career, she was employed with the New Orleans Item Newspaper, acted as the women’s program director for W.J.B.W. Radio Station and then became area manager for D.H. Holmes Lakeside. From 1947 to 1976, Mrs. Pradel owned and operated “J.Till’s House of Fashion” on St. Charles Ave. She was also the owner of “La Boutique De Femme” in the Vieux Carre as well as a boutique in the original John Jay’s Beauty Salon. She designed and created costumes for several Mardi Gras balls and custom designed numerous debutante, wedding, graduation and ball gowns for the Carriage Trade of New Orleans.

Mrs. Pradel was very active in numerous civic and social organizations throughout the City of New Orleans and is well-remembered for serving the following organizations: President - Le Petit Theatre Du Vieux Carre; President - The Guild of the Little Theatre; President - American Institute of Archaeology, New Orleans Chapter; President - New Orleans Business and Professional Women’s Club; Treasurer - Sociedad Espanola; Regional Director - The Fashion Group of New Orleans; Assistant Director - France Louisiana Festival for the 1976 Bi-Centennial Year in New Orleans; Regent - Daughters of the American Revolution, Vieux Carre Chapter; Poydras Home Auxillary; Historic New Orleans Collection. She also served as President of the Bastille Day Festival held at the Place De France, Rivergate, for thirteen consecutive years.

Mrs. Pradel served as a member of the following boards: Women’s Guild of the New Orleans Opera; Altrusa International; Independent Women’s Organization; Overture to the Cultural Season (Charter Member); Cultural Attractions Fund; Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church; and Patio Planters, Honorary Member. She also received many honors including being selected as one of the “84 People to Watch in ‘84" by New Orleans Magazine; selected as one of ten “Outstanding People of 1984" in the City of New Orleans by the Institute of Human Understanding; listed in Who’s Who of American Business Women; and being the subject of feature articles in Mademoiselle Magazine on her fashion career, as well as in the silver anniversary issue of Traphagen School of Fashion on being one of ten most outstanding former students. She has received Keys to the City of New Orleans under three mayors; Keys to the City of Houston; and been made an Honorary Citizen of Guatemala. She was also recognized as the only business woman selected as delegate on three Latin American trade missions and in 2009 she was honored as “Woman of the Year” by Sociedad Espanola. At the time of her death Mrs. Pradel was still active as Treasurer for Sociedad Espanola.

Mrs. Pradel was married to the late Leon A. Pradel, Esq. and was the mother of the late Stephen Glen Pradel. She is survived by one son, Paul Andre Pradel, M.D. of Fort Smith, Arkansas; three grandchildren, Ashley Pradel, Esq. of Miami, Florida, Tiana Pradel Sudbeck of Madison, Mississippi, and Stuart Bradley Pradel of Dallas, Texas; as well as three great grandsons, Lawson Baine Sudbeck and Rylan Graham Sudbeck of Madison, Mississippi, and Nicolas Leon Pradel of Dallas, Texas; and one great granddaughter, Valentina Isabella Pradel of Dallas, Texas.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend the visitation at Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, August 5, 2016 with a memorial service following at 4 p.m. Reception immediately following the service at 5219 Pitt Street, New Orleans, Louisiana. The inurnment is to be held at Greenwood Cemetery, 37 Latenier, at 11 a.m. on Saturday August 6, 2016. Donations appreciated by the L.A. S.P.C.A. Feral Cat Program 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd. N.O.L.A. 70114.