Ann Valliant

Ann was born in New Orleans, LA on February 23, 1932 the first child of Karl and Alice Saleeby. She grew up in the Irish Channel and Algiers Point and loved spending summers at her grandfather's home in Clermont Harbor, Mississippi. In 1950 she graduated from Martin Behrman High School and moved to Washington D.C. to work in the typing pool at the Pentagon. In 1951 she said yes to Jimmy Valliant’s proposal via telegram and started her adventure as a Navy wife. In 1952, they moved back to New Orleans to settle and raise their family.

Ann was a loving and dedicated mother; spending her days advocating for her children and trying to keep them from causing too much trouble. When her children were grown, she went to work at Norman Realty, and later the Louisiana Department of Health and Family Services. Upon retirement she and Jimmy became world travelers, spending many summers in Europe touring with a wonderful group of friends and visiting their grandchildren and great-grandchildren in the United States. There was no role she loved more than being Granny Annie. In her later years Ann became a beloved knitting teacher for the Peoples Program West Bank and loved her standing canasta game with friends.

Ann was a consummate southern lady. Her door was always open and she always had a cup of coffee or Lipton Instant Tea ready and a bit of advice to share, along with her famous pecan tarts. She loved cats and fiber crafts and mystery novels. She kept headphones close so she could enjoy Debussy or Pavarotti at whatever volume she wanted. Carnival was her favorite time of year, she kept her Mardi Gras tree up year round, and seeing the 610 Stompers on Thoth Sunday was a tradition even into her 90s.

If you want to remember Ann, pour yourself a hot cup of coffee with a Lorna Doone on the side and put on Freedom by Jon Batiste, we know she’ll be right by your side enjoying the music.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 71 years James Royce Valliant, her parents Karl Saleeby and Alice Higgins Saleeby, and her brother John Saleeby. Ann is survived by her sister, Janet Saleeby Riedel; children, Laura Valliant, Gerry (Rhonda) Valliant, and John (Merrie) Valliant; her grandchildren, Stephen (Melinda) Valliant, Jamsie Valliant, Lacey (Wes) Jenkins, Alta (Peter) Compton, and Collette Valliant; great-grandchildren, Wells Valliant, Rebeka Valliant, Averi James Valliant, Landry Kate Jenkins, Easton Jenkins, and Ellis Mae Compton; and her cat and constant companion Sallie, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, friends and neighbors.

In lieu of flowers, Ann requested donations be made to the ASPCA or Manning Family Children’s.

Expressions of sympathy can be offered to the Valliant family at www.WestsideLeitzEagan.com.