Ruth Fairchild Heymann

Mom was born as Ruth Mary Fairchild in New Orleans on October 2nd, 1932, and was raised in the 9th ward, the Bywater, on Mazant Street during the great depression. Her family was very poor, but she grew up happy. There were many stories about growing up with only the necessities, no air conditioning, tv and one car, sometimes no car. They rode buses and streetcars everywhere. One of the stories told of a time when she and her little brother Michael took a wagon with some fresh vegetables door-to-door to make money for the family. From the start Mom was a giver, she wanted to help everyone, and give to every cause. Mom was a graduate of Francis T. Nicholls High School in 1951. Mom was a proud New Orleans Catholic in St. Cecelia’s parish and a beloved “downtown Deb” in her younger years. She met our father in business school and worked as a secretary until her oldest son Leo Jr. (Ned) came along. They were married for 45 years and raised 5 children, 9 grandchildren, and 9 great grandchildren. Over the years she was mostly a stay-at-home mom, entering back into the workforce when her youngest was in high school. For a short while Mom worked for the Bellsouth Phone Center on Carrolton Avenue. She was dedicated to her family and was a wonderful wife and mother, who raised her children with the fear of God. As a devoted Catholic Mom made sure her children knew our Lord and Savior and took us to church every single Sunday and holy day. After retirement, Mom was a proud volunteer at Lakeview Hospital in Covington, logging in many hours. She was involved in several social groups including the Nutty Buddies, and Holy Mackerels. She loved playing cards, particularly hand and foot; Pokeno and she would talk about the road trips to the casinos and of course shopping at the casinos, in Mississippi for days. Mom sure liked to shop! She was a real clothes horse who always wanted to look stylish. Even in the last days she would want the perfect outfit, with cute accessories to match. She and her friends also worshiped together and would go to dinner every Saturday after church. Mom and Dad loved to travel and had many USA road trip adventures together, including Hawaii. After Dad passed, Mom split sharing her time with her grandchildren between New Orleans, Georgia, and Florida. Then she ramped it up traveling with friends and family hitting Alaska, the Mediterranean, Spain and Italy, and few trips to France to name a few. Her daughters even took her to NYC for her 75th birthday making sure to visit all the hot spots; she even got to close the Today show while there! She was so star struck and when she met the cast, her face just lit up, and of course she showered them with love. These wonderful memories carried her through when she could travel no more.

The most cherished time of all for her was the time spent with her big, beautiful family she and our father created together. She embraced us all in love and even opened her home repeatedly for her family who needed healing and shelter. She loved cooking for everyone and basked in the chattering chaos surrounding her. She loved to eat, and her favorite thing by far was raw oysters! She was a regular at Mortons in Madisonville for Monday night oysters. When she moved to Georgia, we tried to take her to eat oysters as much as possible. When she couldn’t go out to eat any longer, we brought her sushi and most recently her son Mark would bring oysters in the shell to her and shuck them at her place until she got her fill. Our mother was truly a gem indeed, like a pearl in an oyster, authentic, rare and radiant. We really hit the jackpot of mothers, and we made sure she knew it every day. She was so very loved and will be so deeply missed by everyone.

Ruth was a volunteer for Lakeview Regional Medical Center and a member of Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church.

Ruth was preceded in death by parents, Harold Fairchild and Ethel Gauthier Fairchild; husband, of 45 years, Leo Nathan Heymann; son, David Michael Heymann, brother, Clarence “Michael” Fairchild; and a still-born grandson, Jacob Connell Henriques

Survivors include daughters, Jan Heymann Henriques and Julie Heymann Campbell (Steve); sons, Leo Nathan “Ned” Heymann and Mark Heymann (Annette); daughter-in-law, Sharon Heymann (widow of son, David); grandchildren, David Michael Heymann, Jr. (Hayley), Deshea Heymann Madere (Lance), Dawn Heymann Viviano, Lauren Heymann, Matthew Heymann, Madeline Henriques King (Chase), Jeremy Henriques (Kate), Derek Henriques, and Jacob Campbell (Anna); great-grandchildren, Christian Heymann, Chase Sabillon, Kole Viviano, Jackson Henriques, Anderson Henriques, Harper Henriques, Lucy King, Della King, and Sofia Heymann.

The family would like to give a special thanks to all of the caregivers who took special care of mom with kindness and compassion. Especially our sister Jan, who made her home our mother’s home. Jan cared for our mother tirelessly and made sure she had everything she needed and even some things she didn’t know she needed. It was both a great privilege to care for her and a labor of love; we will be forever grateful. We’d also like to thank Roz, Patricia, Pura, Maria, and Amy, who cared for our mother at home and again when she moved to The Arbor at Bridgemill, where our mother spent the last year of her life. These women poured love into our mother on every visit, thank you just doesn’t seem to sum up our gratitude. Mom enjoyed her time at Bridgemill, the staff was compassionate and loved her, many of them even doted on her. She enjoyed many of the activities, with bingo and live music at the top of her list.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at 1:00 pm, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd, New Orleans. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am prior to the Mass. Interment will be in Lake Lawn Park.

To view and sign the family online guestbook and share your memories of Ruth, please visit lakelawnmetairie.com

In lieu of flowers consider donating in Mom’s name to the American Heart Association or the MDS (Myelodysplastic Anemia) Foundation.

Please wear something bright and cheerful in honor of Mom. She loved color especially purple!