Gloria W Larrieu

The heavenly choir gained a lovely soprano when our beloved mother entered the pearly gates. Gloria Welker Larrieu, age 96, soothed crying babies with her calming lullabies and entertained her family many evenings conducting sing-alongs. Mom also taught us many card games and encouraged quiet time throughout many trips to the library to gather books. Mom cooked better seafood gumbo and spaghetti and meatballs than the finest restaurants in New Orleans. Her gardens were always colorful and lush with blooming plants and flowers. Azaleas, hydrangeas, agapanthus, plumbago, bridal wreath, lilies, hibiscus and gardenias all flourished under Mom’s tender loving care. Mom could also count needle point, crafting and flower arranging among her talents. Mom attended Ursuline Academy where she participated in sports and wrote for the school newspaper. Mom told an entertaining story of how the girls secretly called their publication “The Ursulunatic” but that has been difficult to verify. Mom then attended the Touro Infirmary School of Nursing and graduated as a registered nurse. She married our wonderful father, Elroy, in 1951 and produced a family of five children. Mom participated in our young lives as a cub scout den mother and was active in the PTA. Left to cherish Mom’s memory are her five children Henry Pierre Larrieu, Cheryl L. Bourg Bowers (Christopher Bowers), Paul Gerard Larrieu (Patricia Mora), Deborah L. Lanaux (Jean Paul), Carlton Matthew Larrieu (Djuana Duhon), eight grandchildren, Michelle E. Bourg, Paul G. Larrieu II, Kelly L. Roles (Mark), Nicole L. Cordova (Jason), Madison E. Larrieu, Carlton Matthew Larrieu, Jr., Andre’ P. Lanaux, and Kristen L. Stout and five great-grandchildren, Wyatt F. Roles, Tess O. Roles, Sterling J. Roles, Kensley M. Cordova, and Jason A. Cordova. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Henry Elroy Larrieu, her father Clarence Rudolph Welker, her mother Jeannette Cazebonne Welker, and her son-in-law Baron Belaire Bourg, Jr. Mom was a lifelong member of the Catholic Church and her church homes have been St. Anthony of Padua in New Orleans and St. Catherine of Siena and St. Frances Xavier in Metairie. Our family would like to extend special thanks and appreciation to the nurses, caregivers, and staff at Barclay House for their outstanding compassion and care of our beloved Mother. In addition, we are very grateful to the nurses, social workers, chaplain, and caregivers of Hospice of Baton Rouge for their compassionate care of our Mother. A celebration of Gloria’s long and storied life will be held at a future date. Memorial donations can be made to Mom’s favorite devotion, The National Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, 2701 State Street, New Orleans, LA 70118, or to the charitable organization of your choosing.