Francis Daniel O'Rourke

Francis Daniel O’Rourke, born September 12, 1942, to Mary Jane Jones O’Rourke and Francis “Frankie” Daniel O’Rourke, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Monday, February 10, 2025, at the age of 82. Francis grew up in the Irish Channel of New Orleans with his sisters, Maureen O’Rourke Luce and Kathleen O’Rourke McRae. After spending four years in the Protestant Orphans’ Home on Magazine Street (ages 4 to 8 for Francis), the Irish triplets were taken in by their Aunt Anna “Annie” O’Rourke to be raised Catholic. A graduate of St. Alphonsus Liguori elementary school in 1958, Francis went to Delgado Trades and Technical Institute where he received a certificate as a cabinet maker in 1961. He worked for the City of New Orleans Department of Sanitation, often working overnight sweeping the streets downtown and as a part-time flexible mail handler for the New Orleans Post Office. He also worked at Parasol’s bar making their po-boy roast beef and gravy and worked at Kohlmaier and Kohlmaier custom furniture workshop on Harmony Street where Ruppert Kohlmaier Sr. and Jr. built and restored some of the finest furniture around. Before moving to Kenner, LA, Francis lived most of his life in the Irish Channel being heavily involved in and widely known throughout the community and a member of Redemptorist Parish. After moving to Kenner, Francis joined Divine Mercy Parish.

Not ever having been married and without children of his own, Francis was a mainstay in the lives of his sister Maureen’s children and their spouses, (Milson and Larisa, Monique and Tito, and Matthew and Megan) and her grandchildren (Ben, Daniel, David, Tyler, Carson, Clara, and Grayson) and will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 9:30am at St. Mary's Assumption Church, 923 Josephine St. in New Orleans followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow in the Calvary Mausoleum located in St. Patrick no. 1 Cemetery.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LeitzEaganFuneralHome.com.