Hazel "Emily" Wise

Hazel “Emily” Hamann Menesses Wise, 69, of Slidell Louisiana, passed away in her home on Monday, August 18, 2014 surrounded by her loving family. Born in New Orleans on March 22, 1945, the daughter of Frank L. and Beulah Mae Hamann. Emily lived in New Orleans, Yscloskey, Poydras, and Slidell and left a piece of her heart everywhere she went.

Emily’s greatest joy in life was her eleven children. She held a special relationship with each and every one. She savored every day of a life well lived. Her days were spent cooking, caring for her children and grandchildren, attending yard sales, parading, treasure hunting, researching genealogy and stirring the pot whenever she could. Always the life of the party and the schemer extraordinaire, she died with a spoon in her hand.

Emily’s abundance of love and laughter will be missed dearly by her children, Mary Ann Menesses Carter, Anita Menesses Wyrick (Tony), Erwin “Bubba” Menesses, Jr. (Cherie), Kevin Menesses, Michelle Menesses (Chuck), Hiedi Menesses Smallwood (Ronald), Jacqueline Menesses Davis, Jeffery Wise, Jack Wise (Katie), Kevin Wise and Alexis Wise. She will also be missed by her two devoted step-daughters, Bradley Wise Walthall and Debbie Wise Roy (Vic) as well as her sister, Laura Eschete (Peter), and brothers Valerie Hamann and Ronald Hamann.

She is also survived by her 16 grandchildren: Andrew Wyrick, Amanda Carter, Sean Carter, Kirsten Wood, Ryan Dussor, Erwin “Trey” Menesses, III., Christopher Maricle, Damian Dussor, Clayton Maricle, Hannah Davis, Julie Wyrick, Nicholas Davis, Blake Menesses, Mallory Menesses, Lilian Wise & Cullen Smallwood as well as an abundance of loving relatives and friends.

In addition to her parents, Emily was predeceased by her husband of over 30 years, Milton B. Wise, her sister Winona Ferris Matheson, and brothers Ernest Quina, Frank L. Hamann, Jr., Patric Hamann, and George Hamann. She was also predeceased by her dear, life-long friend, Sharon Kessler as well as her former husband, Erwin J. “Pinkey” Menesses Sr.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Visitation to be held at ST. BERNARD MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 701 W. Virtue St., Chalmette, LA on Thursday, August 21, 2014 from 7:00 PM. - 9:00 PM. An additional viewing will be held the following day on Friday, August 22, 2014 from 10:00 AM. - 1:00 PM. Interment will immediately follow at St. Bernard Catholic Cemetery, Bayou Road, St. Bernard, Louisiana and will cumulate with a second-line procession. Friends and family are invited to join us for a celebration of Emily’s life on Friday at the Los Islenos Museum, 1357 Bayou Rd, St. Bernard, LA from 2:00 PM. - 5:00 PM. To view and sign the Family Guestbook, please visit www.stbernardmemorial.com