Willie Mae Hundley La Nasa

Willie Mae Hundley La Nasa, 88, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2026, with her 3 sons at her bedside. Willie was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi on January 23, 1938, to Joseph Floyd Hundley and Willie Myrtle Allen. She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, August Joseph La Nasa, her parents and brother, Ray Doyle Allen, and granddaughter, Vickie Lynn LaCombe, and is survived by her three sons, Robert Jeffrey La Combe, Alfred John La Nasa, and Philip Joseph La Nasa (m. Rachel), and grandchildren, Lucy, Jake, and Nina.

Willie was a graduate of Warren Easton High School, class of 1955. She worked for South Central Bell and then as a secretary at the Jones Walker law firm before marrying Augie in 1965. She became a full-time wife, mother, and homemaker but still had time in the early 1970’s to draw plans, contract, and decorate the 5,000 square foot family home.

For the vast portion of Willie’s life, she loved to garden and make floral arrangements (winning many blue ribbons), entertain, cook (winning contests), travel, and make jewelry. Willie was the life of the party and threw the best parties for her family, friends for their special occasions, and the many clubs that she belonged to. Willie was fun, creative, colorful, full of life, loving, caring, generous, compassionate, self-less, talented, and had a true servant’s heart.

After Augie, her sons, and grandchildren, Willie’s greatest joy in life was giving of her time and talents by volunteering for many charities and organizations. Her top three were:

Ronald McDonald House/Children’s Oncology Services of Louisiana Willie was a member of the search group for a Home Away From Home for temporary housing facilities for families of cancer patients. She was instrumental in acquiring the original house on Canal Street that furnished support for families and chaired the sale of tickets for theatrical presentations for four years to raise money for the House. She served on the Board of Directors since its inception and on fundraising and public relations committees and was President from 1983-85.

Louisiana Garden Club Federation Willie was a Life member; Prayer Request chairman 2011-13; Vendor chairman for five of the state conventions; chairman of a project “Green the Coast” sponsored by National Garden Clubs, Inc., and served as chairman of the dedication in City Park of that project in 2010. She was a member of the State Convention committee held in Jefferson Parish in April 2013.

The Friends of City Park From 1987-2014, Willie was a supporter of the children’s program during Christmas in the Oaks and purchasing ornaments for the children. She was a volunteer at Christmas in the Oaks until 2014. Also, Willie was a member of the Popp Society, which was. formed to restore the Popp Fountain, and a member of the committee “Popp for a Brick,” a fundraiser selling bricks to pave the way.

Willie was a member of the National Garden Clubs/National Council Of State Garden Clubs, Inc. Anyone who knew Willie and her creativity would not be surprised that she won its poetry contest (with over 800 poems submitted across America) in 1994 with her poem “Wildflower, Oh Wildflower”. In 2002, Willie designed a Christmas Tree Ornament that was presented to National Garden Clubs, Inc., and was placed on their tree in Washington, D.C. She was a charter member of The Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society from 1991 to 2014, served on its advisory council, and was a member of the first fundraising gala, “Happy Birthday, Mr. Faulkner”.

Willie had natural organizational and leadership skills. If she became involved in an organization, she soon was leading a committee or serving as an officer. She was President of: New Orleans Garden Society (1970-71); New Orleans Woman’s Club (1976-78) (also philanthropic chairman (1972-73), Program chairman (1975-76), Tour chairman for the Tutankhamun exhibit at NOMA (1977), and served as chairman of the Education and Service to the Community for several years); Ladies Leukemia League (1988-89) (also Chairman of Blood Drive in Mobile Facility for two years. Life member.); Goodwill Industries (1989-90); Society of Louisiana Artists in Metal (2003-06) (and editor of its publication “The Slammer”); Lake Forest Garden Club (2007-09); The Federated Council of New Orleans Garden Clubs, for five years and past chairman of 15 of the 25 committees, served as Chairman of the dedication of the Native Plant Garden in City Park in 2010, Chairman of a Blue Star Memorial By-way Marker and the flagpole and American flag installation, Director of “Sunken Gardens project, Habitat for Humanity Landscaping project, and “Seeds of Service” in New Orleans.

In addition to these Presidential roles, Willie served as Chairman for the: Gentilly Garden Club (also Register and Treasurer); Japanese Garden Society of New Orleans (membership drive and sponsorship for the garden in the New Orleans Botanical Garden); Spina Bifida Association (Chairman, Louisiana/National Fundraising Campaign and composed The Spina Bifida Creed which was accepted by the National Spina Bifida Association); and the New Orleans Opera Association (chairman of student subscription sales in (1976-77).

Willie was on the Board of Directors of Grace House of New Orleans and Lake Terrace Property Owners Association. She also served on the Membership Committee of The Institute of Human Understanding; was a Cub Scout Den Mother during the 1970’s; served many years with the students at Workers of Magnolia School (helped establish the greenhouse that is still growing); and was a member for many years of the Volunteers of America and chaired many of their fundraisers.

Willie gave of herself for so many years, and did so humbly, with great love, and never sought recognition. Her efforts, though, did not go unnoticed. Willie received many awards, including:

Certificate of Appreciation with Key to the City from Mayor Moon Landrieu for hosting the U.S. Conference of Mayors in New Orleans (1972); Boy Scouts of America “Recognition for Unselfish, Devoted Leadership” (1976); written up as a leader in the Orleans Guide newspaper (1977); chosen Woman of the Year by the Junior Membership of the New Orleans Woman’s Club for outstanding, unselfish endeavors for the community with the mentally and physically handicapped, the aged, and for her civic and political work (1979); Certificate of Merit for serving on the Turf Committee for the Sugar Bowl Stadium; chosen Woman of the Year by the Junior Membership of the New Orleans Garden Society (1980); recognized with a gavel and plaque by the Children’s Oncology Service of Louisiana’s Board of Directors for her unselfish work to the Ronald McDonald House (1985); Honorary Member of the New Orleans Saints Wives; received a plaque/gavel from Goodwill Industries Volunteer Service for unselfish dedication (1990); received the Federated Council of New Orleans Garden Club’s “Woman of the Year Award” (1998); and was named into the Louisiana Garden Club Federation’s “Circle of Roses” for outstanding leadership and work in the garden clubs of Louisiana (2013). She also received: a Certification of Appreciation for Outstanding Service from the Ladies Leukemia League; a Certificate of Appreciation for co-chairing the volunteers at Christmas in the Oaks in City Park (1989); the “Living and Giving” award from the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Louisiana; the St. Elizabeth’s Guild Community Activist Award “City Stars”; and the award of “Ten Outstanding Persons” from the Institute of Human Understanding.

While happy to have been recognized for her work, Willie was especially honored to have received the National Valley Forge Honor Certificate in recognition of an outstanding contribution in the category of Individual Achievement (1986), a national award in recognition of an outstanding contribution which strengthens an understanding and appreciation of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in a free society, and The Great Lady/Great Gentleman Award (2014), an award whose recipient is chosen by a Selection Committee composed of professional and business leaders in the community and which honors and recognizes outstanding volunteer service by men and women in the Greater New Orleans area.

Willie also was an active member of so many other charitable and community organizations and held numerous committee leadership positions - literally too many to list.

Her family, and the many whose lives she touched and made better, will miss Willie and her lively spirit and infectious personality and smile.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 12 PM. Visitation will be held from 11 AM until Mass begins. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to the Ronald McDonald House in her memory: RMHC of South Louisiana, Attn: Grace McIntosh, 210 State Street, Building 4, New Orleans, LA 70118.