Rita Lonero Brown Ferrara

Rita Lonero Brown Ferrara entered into eternal peace on Tuesday, February 20, 2018. She made the absolute most of each of her 93 years & was the loving mother of Harold Francis Brown, Jr. (Linda). How she loved her grandson Harold Brown III & her only granddaughter, Sophia Brown. She is preceded in death by her 1st husband, Harold F. Brown, Sr. & her 2nd husband, Natale (Nat) Ferrara. Also preceding her in death are her parents, Joseph & Josephine Fava Lonero & their 14 children, Joseph (Anita), Emile “Mehle” (Mary), Sam (Alice), Katie Colombo (Frank), Sarah Guimont, Mike (Sarah), Frances Trondle (Herbert), Josephine Sahuque (Sy), Peter “Pedu” (Jo), Dominic, Rosie Indovina (August, Sr.), Angelina “Nene” Perniciaro Allen (Sam, Henry) & Marie Muller (Howard, Sr.). Aunt Rita will be missed by a host of nieces & nephews in & around New Orleans where she resided her entire life.

A true New Orleanian, Rita was the final child of 14 siblings. Raised in the French Quarter with this large Italian family, she acquired a helpful nature which carried through for a lifetime. She was a room mother at St. Louis Cathedral School

where her son Harold was an altar server. She was also a member of the altar society & after years of service to A & P grocers, she retired to enjoy casino trips to Biloxi, her pets, visiting with family & cooking good Italian food.

After residing at Wynhoven Apartments for several years, she spanned a 12 year stay at Wynhoven Medical Center where she was known & loved by many. It’s been said that she was famous for her strong will, determination & independence. Rita had a sweet smile, dazzling blue eyes & beautiful thick hair that was her calling card.

Rita was compassionately guided for years by dedicated caregivers in the St. Mary Neighborhood at Wynhoven. Special thanks to Ms. Daisy, Lucille & Charles and many others too numerous to name. Many of them treasured having her as an adopted grandmother & in the end, they came repeatedly to prepare her for her journey. During her final week of life, extra special care was provided by Sheila & Frances from Notre Dame Hospice.

On Monday, February 26, we will celebrate Rita’s life by welcoming relatives & friends of the family at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA, 70124. Visitation begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment at Metairie Cemetery on Pontchartrain Blvd. will follow mass.

Although Rita loved flowers, donations to Wynhoven Health Care Center, a ministry of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, 1050 Medical Center Blvd., Marrero, La 70072, would be better served.