Terry Gorman Salassi

Terry was born November 6, 1942, in St. Joseph, Missouri, to Ethel Miller Gorman and Thomas Gorman. As a young child, she moved with her mother and brother to Birmingham, Alabama, and was raised primarily by her mother and her maternal grandparents, Ethel and Beauregard Miller.

She graduated from Shades Valley High School in Birmingham, then received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1964 from Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans, where she was a member of Alpha Delta Phi sorority and president of the Dance Club. She went on to earn a Master of Social Work degree from Tulane University in 1966.

She met Raymond J. Salassi, Jr. in college, and they were married from December 27, 1965, until his death in 2002. Together they raised four daughters.

Terry was a stay-at-home wife and mother, who attended just about every sports game, talent show, ballet and piano recital, academic fair, school and religious ceremony that her girls participated in. She also did extensive volunteer work for multiple organizations including WYES, the New Orleans Symphony Book Fair, and Poydras Home, where she championed the annual Art Show and served on the Board of Directors. She was an avid reader, enjoyed gardening, and loved the performing arts, especially ballet, theater, and symphony. Terry was known by all as a wonderful cook who first learned New Orleans classic recipes from her mother-in-law. She had an extensive collection of cookbooks and enjoyed trying out gourmet recipes, especially for dinners with the Supper Club she and Ray created with dear friends, and for her famous family Wednesday Night Suppers.

She was preceded in death by her brother Beau, mother, father, and husband.

She will be greatly missed by her four daughters and two sons-in-law: Jeanne and Tim Walker, Anne Salassi, Carol Salassi, and Karen and Derek Gardes, as well as her four grandchildren: Raymond Walker, Ben Walker, Katie Gardes, and Virginia Gardes, who adored their Nana.

The family would like to thank the dedicated sitters at Home Care Solutions for their excellent care of Terry through her prolonged illness with dementia, the staff at Poydras Home, as well as Anvoi Hospice.

Visitation will be held Saturday, October 4, 2025, at 9:00 am at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd in New Orleans, with a memorial service to follow at 11:00. Terry will be laid to rest in Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to WYES, Poydras Home, or the charity of your choice.