Miriam Isolina Melián

You knew it was gonna be a good day when you woke up to the sound of our mom’s hands slapping in the kitchen—slap-slap-slap-slap-slap—then the sound of a fresh tortilla hitting a very hot pan. Ahhh. And, if you were lucky, she’d make enough for you to take some for school lunch too.

On road trips those practiced hands could be stealthy too—slap-slap—ninja-style on our legs, leaving only her light hand prints. Omar and I thought we were pretty good when would play singer-song writer in the back seat.

That was our Mom, always looking out for us, (and my Dad’s sanity on road trips) making sure we had everything we could possibly need to stay healthy, sheltered and loved.

And we weren’t the only ones at the receiving end of that love. She lived many places, making many amazing friends, who in turn became family. Her childhood was filled playing in trees, running, falling, running and falling again. Letting scrapes stop her was not her style.

Moving to New Orleans as a teenager in 1960 with her family and becoming a U.S. citizen was next in the cards for her. She was also, officially confirmed the worst mayonnaise production line worker ever in a mayo factory. Many, many, many bottles of mayonnaise were sacrificed to be bestowed the title during her short tenure there. Again, that didn’t stop her.

Meeting the love of her life, Celedonio, would happen next. They fell in love, married and moved to Brisbane, Australia. I asked her about that “cruise” once, and she explained that it was not a cruise, but rather an unglamorous journey that took months on a freighter.

Moving back to New Orleans to start a family came once Celedonio earned his U.S. citizenship.

Years came and went with moves to Venezuela, then to Houston. Again, making her friends seem like family with her love and generosity.

Her generous spirit was also felt through her dedicated volunteer work at Memorial Hospital and Holy Ghost Catholic Church and School, where she gave countless hours in service to others.

If you asked her for a favor, her answer was always a resounding “yes,” offered with a smile and genuine enthusiasm.

She was also creative and an entrepreneur as she started a party supply business with her best friend—designing and making the most beautiful piñatas.

She was good at business and frugality. Her last business venture was a salvaged transmission parts store with my father, where even there she used her signature flair—packaging transmission parts in used boxed cereal bags; they were sturdy, clear and the perfect size for parts.

There was no project too big or small for her hands and heart.

Retirement brought her to Seattle, where she and our Dad refurbished a bungalow from floor to ceiling—stripping decades of bad paint and wood stains to return the home to its former glory.

Her garden was a living testament to her green thumb, blossoming with a victory garden, hydrangeas, rhododendron, roses and fruiting trees and bushes.

She brought that gardening spirit with her next to Spring, Texas. It was all about the roses at this home. A variety so beautiful that neighbors would come by to admire them and maybe pick a few.

After years in Spring they packed up and moved to Georgia, where after 60 years of marriage she was widowed. Staying in Georgia, but moving to the next city over, she was free to trade in her car driving days for golf cart driving days. Getting to the grocery store, doctor appointments and even volunteering at the library all in her sweet white golf cart ride.

Her next move was joining a retirement community in Dallas. Making new friends came easily to her, but the thought of her beloved sister, Elena and family made her yearn to return to New Orleans.

So in 2021, she moved back to New Orleans to be with her family and friends and enjoy her time with them.

Anyone who knew her knows of her great love for tigers—a passion that reflected her spirit: bold, majestic and deeply loving.

She will be dearly missed, lovingly remembered and ever celebrated.

Mimi was preceded in death by her husband, Celedonio Melián; parents, Jesus Pineda Romos and Ester Seron de Pineda; sisters, Maria M. Pineda and Victoria F. Pineda Ruiz; brothers, Jorge Pineda, Hector F. Pineda and Jesus R. Pineda; and brothers-in-law, Wilfredo Ruiz and Greg Miles.

Survivors include her daughter, Virginia Le (Tan); son, Omar Melián (Tricia); sisters, Elena Luz Pineda and Sonia Pineda Miles; brothers, Mario R. Pineda (Gladys) and Carlos R. Pineda; grandchildren: Melina Le, Josefina Melián, Mason Le and Sergio Melián; sister-in-law, Elsa Pineda; aunt, Maria Luz Ramirez; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

We are thankful that Mimi’s final years and days were peaceful and dignified thanks to Miriam Alpizar, Miriam Hernández, Pedro Alpizar, Sisters, Servants of Mary and Maria Vasquez.

Visitation will be from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 22, 2025, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd in New Orleans. The funeral mass will immediately follow in the Chapel at 10:00 a.m., officiated by Father José Cáceres of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. Burial will be in Forest Park Westheimer in Houston, Texas at a later date.