Sherry Brown Landry

Sherry Brown Landry, beloved mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother, died on October 28, 2015 after a courageous 5-1/2 year battle with Leiomyosarcoma. She was born on November 30, 1942 in Clovis, NM and grew up in Andrews, TX. She graduated from Newcomb College at Tulane University in 1964. While at Tulane, she met and married Jacob D. Landry. After rearing 5 children in New Iberia, LA, they relocated to New Orleans in 1989. She returned to Tulane and worked in both the Athletic Office and the Development Office on campus. She eventually returned to her student status at Tulane and earned a Master of Social Work degree. She utilized her advanced certification in Gerontology and truly enjoyed working as a clinical Social Worker for many years in the New Orleans area. She has since lived in Austin, TX (post-Hurricane Katrina) and then finally in Dallas, TX.

Sherry was blessed with an overwhelming aura of love and welcome to everyone that she met. In conversation, you felt like you were the only object of her attention – because, in fact, you were. It was so easy to talk to her about emotions, hopes and dreams, as she was just so encouraging. Seeing her made your day because it made her day and she genuinely communicated this to you. Throughout our time growing up and into our adult years, our friends enjoyed her company so much – all of this flowing from her grace, elegance and loving smile, born of her personal relationship with God. We have heard from so many people that she encountered on so many paths of her life – all of whom say what a beautiful, friendly person she was and how much they enjoyed being around her. We can only imagine how many lives she touched on her walk here on this earth.

This disease did not define her… it motivated her! She decided she was going to fight it with all she had. She drew up her "Bucket List" and began to check it off quickly ~ traveling to the Panama Canal, California several times where she had her first trip in a hot air balloon, Italy, Hawaii twice where she enjoyed watching whales from a helicopter, Russia and seeing the Red Square at night, and an Alaskan cruise! She put her passport to great use and left her mark around the world. She quilted like mad and finished making handmade quilts so that all of her children, their spouses and all the grandchildren would have one of their very own made with love! She was a remarkable mother and grandmother (or "Mah-may") to all of her children, their spouses and grandchildren… all of whom felt uniquely loved! She attended as many of the grandchildren's functions as she could… even when mobility wasn't very easy for her. She continued to love cooking as she was an accomplished chef and ultimate foodie and was right at home in anyone's kitchen. Her gumbo and étouffée were phenomenal and made it impossible for us to eat it anywhere else but from her pots. She didn't ever slow down… she sped up and lived!! She fought her disease courageously and never let it stop her from living her life to the fullest. Her death created a broken link in our family chain and she will be missed greatly but her memory will be alive in our hearts forever and our chain will link again one day.

She is survived by her son Jacob (Jay) Freel Landry and his wife Debbie and granddaughters Grace and Mary of South Bend, IN, daughter Lauren Cheetham and her husband David and grandchildren Connor and Caroline of Dallas, TX, son Zachary Landry and his wife Stephanie and granddaughters Avery and MacKenna of Austin, TX, daughter Sherry Deitrick and her husband Rick and grandchildren Reece and Julia of Austin, TX, and daughter Christienne Parten and her husband Jim and grandchildren AnnaMaria and Eli of Austin, TX. Other survivors include her former husband, Jacob D. Landry of Austin, TX, brother David Brown and his wife Meg of Austin, TX, and niece Courtney Brown Meinen and her husband Burk of Austin, TX. Sherry is preceded in death by her parents LZ and Mabel Brown of Andrews, TX, and her in-laws Jacob S. Landry and his wife Stephanie of New Iberia, LA.

Our family is incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and support shown to Sherry throughout her illness. Her support system of numerous friends and family across the country was instrumental during her treatment. We would like to thank Dr. Robert Benjamin at MD Anderson and Dr. Robert Mennel at Texas Oncology at Baylor Medical Center in Dallas and their nursing staff, who provided the most compassionate and professional care. We are also deeply appreciative to the staff at The Plaza at Querencia, Seton Hospital, and Hospice Austin's Christopher House where she received phenomenal care during her final days.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: MD Anderson Cancer Center, PO Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 or www.mdanderson.org/gifts (Please include Sherry Brown Landry/Sarcoma-Dr. Benjamin) or to Hospice Austin/Christopher House, 4107 Spicewood Springs Rd, Ste 100, Austin TX 78759

Services celebrating Sherry's life include a Catholic vigil service on November 1st at 7:30pm following visitation from 5:30-7:30 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral home located at 3125 North Lamar, Austin, TX. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on November 2nd at 11:00am with visitation from 10:00-10:45 at St John Neumann Catholic Church located at 5455 Bee Cave Rd. West Lake Hills, TX.

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" 2 Timothy 4:7