Adrienne Mary Burlett Grainer

Adrienne Mary Burlett Grainer joined her heavenly family at sunrise on May 11, 2020. Waiting with joy to welcome her were her adored and adoring husband of 59 years, Raymond Edward Grainer, loving parents Ada Whitney Burlett and Henry Christian Burlett, and beloved and forever young little sister Leona Ann Burlett.

She was the spiritual center and guiding light to children Martha Ann Tausch (Lawrence), Susan Rose Sikorski (Daniel), Robert Christian “Chris” Grainer, and Gene Marie Bailey (James), and loving Grandmama to Gregory Douglas Tausch, Laura Lynn Tausch, Matthew Raymond Tausch, Sarah Michelle Grainer (Eric), Aimée Katharine Grainer, Anna Louise Grainer, and James Edward Bailey. She will be a Great-Grandmama angel in July 2020.

Adrienne was born in New Orleans on October 12, 1926, and grew up in Gentilly. She had many happy stories about her childhood, about her firebrand little sister Leona who lived a full life in four short years, about her cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents who all lived next door and across the street and around the corner. Her love and appreciation for her family led to a passion for genealogical research, and a rich, documented legacy she leaves for her future generations.

She attended Mount Carmel Academy and her 1943 graduating class of 16 became her lifelong friends, who met once a month as the “Class Ladies,” Les Girls, for over 40 years. “Class Party” night in our family meant her cheesecake—there is none better, don’t even try—and a scoop of tropical (spirits-free to the kids!) frozen daiquiris.

Adrienne and Ray met through the New Orleans USO, as he had blown in from hometown Chicago via the Navy during the WWII years. Their first date was a double—she went with another boy, and he went with another girl. They swapped on the next date. The rest, as they say, is history. They married on May 23, 1946.

Adrienne, aka “Pinky,” was dedicated to her family, to Ray, to their children and grandchildren, and to her mother, who lost her own husband too young. She held court over countless Sunday dinners, always celebrated the big things and, more importantly, the little things, and lived joyously. She loved her garden and her cats and was never without a book—she especially loved a good mystery.

From Gentilly the family moved to New Orleans East, after a brief relocation to Louisville, Kentucky. Post-Katrina, Adrienne settled in Hammond, the “big city” to her grandparents’ farm in Ponchatoula, where she often visited as a child.

We will forever remember her completely selfless love, her gentleness, and her beautiful spirit. She was always smiling, always anchored to the light and to her faith even in difficult times. She was and always will be our sunshine and our guardian angel.

Donations can be made to Memory Care of St. Anthony’s Gardens (https://stanthonysgardens.org/) senior living in Covington, for the incredible, dedicated, compassionate staff who, in the frontlines of COVID-19, kept our Mom/Grandmama without fear and with love at the end of her earthly life.

Services are Private.

Due to the current extenuating circumstances, we ask that those who wish to express their condolences or share fond memories do so at www.lakelawnmetairie.com