photos icon

About

One of the older continuously operating funeral homes in the country, Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home has helped generations of New Orleans families with all of their funeral needs. Our service in the New Orleans community began in 1854, and today our professional and compassionate team works with people of all backgrounds during one of the more difficult times of life: losing a loved one.

The funeral home is located in Metairie on Veterans Boulevard, between Transcontinental Drive and Clearview Parkway. Right outside of New Orleans, the funeral home can be accessed via I-10. Whether you need immediate assistance with funeral arrangements or you are planning ahead, we are here for you.

An inclusive New Orleans funeral home

Because the New Orleans area is a wonderfully diverse place, Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home serves families of all faiths and cultures. We work with you to incorporate your preferred religious or cultural traditions into the memorial service. Leitz-Eagan was among the first funeral homes in the New Orleans area to offer a full Catholic Mass in its chapel.

Chapels for every need

Sitting area at Leitz-Eagan Funeral HomeLeitz-Eagan Funeral Home’s plant-filled atrium with a fountain makes a beautiful first impression on all of our visitors, whether they come here to make funeral arrangements or attend a memorial service. Every room in the funeral home, from the chapel and parlors to arrangement rooms and reception area, is designed to make guests feel comfortable and welcome.

Our large and spacious chapel holds approximately 200 attendees seated in pews. Traditional in design, the chapel has stained-glass windows, a pulpit and an organ. If you would like organ music during a service, we can help you select an organist.

The chapel is simply and tastefully decorated. That is purposeful, as we encourage families to personalize the space with photos and mementos. Every memorial service should be as unique as the person it honors, so we work with families to design a space that best reflects the life being celebrated.

In addition to the chapel, Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home has four parlors with sofas and chairs for a reception-type setting. Each parlor can accommodate around 100 people, but two rooms can be combined for larger visitations. During an extremely large funeral or visitation, speakers throughout the building ensure overflow guests hear every word.

Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home also offers on-site catering and a large reception area for gatherings before or after services. In the case of inclement weather, the funeral home has a porte-cochere.

We celebrate life

Reception room at Leitz-Eagan Funeral HomeEvery person has a life story. How will yours be remembered? At Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, we are skilled storytellers. When you meet with us, we’ll listen carefully to learn everything we can about your loved one and then take all of the things that make him or her unique and create a one-of-a-kind memorial.

If she was a Mardi Gras queen in her youth, we can transform our chapel into a festive parade with beads, feathered masks and confetti. Maybe Cajun cooking was his specialty. We can serve gumbo or jambalaya or even have a crawfish boil. Of course, if you prefer a more traditional funeral service or qualify for a funeral with military honors, we are happy to do that too.

There are thousands of ways to celebrate life. All it takes is a little imagination.

History

In 1854, German immigrant Ambrose Leitz opened a cabinet shop two blocks from the Mississippi River in New Orleans. In search of a better life and economic opportunity, he found hardship in the city's humid climate, which brought mosquitoes and yellow fever.

At that time, people turned to cabinet makers when they needed coffins. With those requests, Ambrose began the businesses that have become the oldest and largest family-managed funeral home and life insurance companies in New Orleans.

For six generations, the Leitz family—and, later, the Eagan family—taught their sons and daughters the traditions of caring for and meeting the needs of people in times of grief.

A family tradition takes hold

Chapel at Leitz-Eagan Funeral HomeAfter Ambrose’s death in 1879, his widow, Louise, built the family business over the next 30 years. “Widow Leitz,” as she was called, had the finest funeral carriages and livery stables in New Orleans. When she died in April 1911, The Daily Picayune reported that she was “one of the best known and most picturesque figures … a woman whose mission in life was to alleviate distress as far as her power lay.”

Fred Leitz, Ambrose and Louise’s son, added embalming and parlor room services to the funeral home. He also moved the funeral home to larger facilities in the area of the city known as the Irish Channel.

When Fred died, his daughter, Agatha, took over with her husband, Charles J. Eagan Sr., and their business became the Leitz-Eagan Companies.

The next generation grows the business

Agatha and Charles were active in charitable and civic affairs. All five of their sons served in the U.S. military and later joined their father to build the business into three funeral homes and three insurance companies. They also continued their parents’ civic involvement and service.

Upholding a legacy

Exterior at Leitz-Eagan Funeral HomeSince the deaths of the fourth-generation brothers, the fifth and sixth generations of the family have been active in the management and operation of the funeral homes. The flagship funeral home, located at Magazine and Phillip, closed in 1992, but Leitz-Eagan’s service continues.

Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home in Metairie has cared for families in the East Jefferson and New Orleans areas since 1968, maintaining an unrivaled reputation for excellence. In 2001, Leitz-Eagan expanded its Westbank presence by merging with the former Westside Funeral Home in Marrero. In 2014, Leitz-Eagan celebrated its 160th year, making it one of the older continuously operating funeral homes in the country.

We care about the New Orleans community

New Orleans is a big city, but we don’t let that stop us from getting to know our neighbors. Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home is a member of the New Orleans Chamber of Commerce and works with several area churches on events, including several Catholic parish fairs. In addition, we hold community memorial services in the spring and winter and invite anyone who wishes to honor lives lost to attend.

Contact us

We know that losing a loved one is difficult. We're here for you when you need us. Call us anytime day or night.

Amenities

Location

Cremation

Service

Religious & Cultural

Other Languages Spoken

Other

Every Detail Remembered

Scroll flourish

An experience like no other, carefully crafted by our caring planning team.

Venues icon for Celebration of Life

Our Venues

Our welcoming and comfortable spaces can be customized to fit your needs.

Pricing Starts At 595
Learn More
Memorialization icon for the premium pricing carousel

Cemetery & Cremation Property

A final resting place that reflects a unique life and legacy for generations to come.

Learn More
catering icon

Personalized Catered Receptions

From desserts and appetizers to a sit-down meal, we can arrange it all.

Pricing Starts At 495
Learn More
Main merchandise icon that appears at the top of the Our Collections section

Our Collections

A lasting remembrance as unique and special as the individual it represents.

Pricing Starts At 195
Learn More
Swirl flourish

View All Products & Services

Create an unforgettable memorial that perfectly reflects the life lived.

View all offerings

Plan a Simple Cremation

Simple can still mean exceptional. Let us show you how.

LEARN MORE
Floral component background

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

Bouquet of flowers on a cemetery 

Remember the one you love

Honor the memory of your loved one with cemetery flower placement. You choose the flowers. You choose the months. We do the rest.

Learn More
Floral component background

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

Bouquet of flowers on a cemetery

Remember the one you love

Honor the memory of your loved one with cemetery flower placement. You choose the flowers. You choose the months. We do the rest.

Learn More

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

View arrangements
Floral component background

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

Vintage photos scattered

Unable to find an obituary?

Not finding what you are looking for? Search for your loved one's obituary across any of our other locations.

VIEW OBITUARIES
Floral component background

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

1-800-Flowers

View arrangements

Vintage photos scattered

Unable to find an obituary?

Not finding what you are looking for? Search for your loved one's obituary across any of our Washelli locations.

VIEW OBITUARIES
A beautiful bouquet of flowers

Express your sympathy with flowers & gifts

 1-800-Flowers

View Arrangements
Bouquet of flowers on a cemetery

Remember the one you love

Honor the memory of your loved one with cemetery flower placement. You choose the flowers. You choose the months. We do the rest.

Learn More
Vintage photos scattered

Unable to find an obituary?

Not finding what you are looking for? Search for your loved one's obituary across any of our other locations.

VIEW OBITUARIES

Ratings & Reviews

Verified Customer Reviews

Since 2005, many of our customers have taken the time to tell us how we did each year via our Voice of the Customer program. Our star ratings and comments from families come directly from these surveys.

"Everyone was so kind, compassionate, and professional.They turned something so painful into something that would have made my loved one so proud of what us done for them Thank you staff for all you did for us."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Burial & Memorial Service Customer

October 2021

"Joe Eagan was exceptional to work with during what were unusual circumstances. He was very responsive, communicative and personally involved."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Customer

October 2021

"The staff was extremely compassionate, patient and understanding of our grief and feelings during this difficult time. Never did we feel pressured to make a decision we were not comfortable with. The services for our father exceeded our expectations. — The Hereford family"

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Cremation & Memorial Service Customer

September 2021

"The staff are very compassionate,and treats each family in a unique way. Whatever that family's particular need is will be met accordingly, with a Spirit of excellence."

jd-power-verified-checkmark Verified Cremation Customer

June 2021

View More Reviews