Althea Rainold Gibert, known to friends as Mimi, passed away peacefully in her sleep surrounded by family on July 21, 2018 at the age of 83. She was born in New Orleans on November 20, 1934, where she resided most of her life. She is predeceased by her husband, Paul LeBlanc Gibert, and her parents, Althea Wuerpel Rainold and Frank Edward Rainold. She is survived by her six beloved children: Stewart Tobin Gibert (wife: Elisabeth Grafstrom) of Fairhope, AL; Brooks LeBlanc Gibert (wife: Helen Crosby) of New Orleans; Scott Halliday Gibert of New Orleans; Paul LeBlanc Gibert, Jr (wife: Louise Patrick) of Charlotte, NC; Althea Gibert Kingsmill of Augusta, GA; and Brandt Dixon Gibert of Abita Springs, LA. She is also survived by thirteen cherished grandchildren: Camille Gibert Hesen (Ben), Tobin, Brita, Brooks Jr (Mareike), Clark (Heidi), Sarah, Hal, Jonathan, Paul III, Will, Thomas, GiGi Kingsmill and Hartley Kingsmill; and one great-grandchild: Charlotte Althea Hesen. Additionally, Mimi is survived by her two sisters, Cynthia Rainold Hammond (Mrs. John Phelps Hammond) of Pass Christian, MS and Barbara Rainold Glover (Mrs. John LeRoy Glover) currently residing in Jefferson, GA; and her sister-in-law Josephine Gibert Farwell (Mrs. Charles Farwell) of Wheaton, MD. Gary Baker Churchill is remembered as a lifelong friend.
Mrs. Gibert graduated from the Louise S. McGehee School and attended Sophie Newcomb College until her marriage in 1954. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, the Junior League of New Orleans and was an active community volunteer for more than 20 years.
An art history major and talented artist in her own right, Mrs. Gibert was known to paint pictures of her children, construct intricate metal flower sculptures and at one time had a pottery studio in her home. She furthered her artistic talents as owner and creative designer at Gibert’s Kitchens by Cameron in Covington, LA. Upon her husband’s death in 1987, she returned to New Orleans and embraced the position of office manager at Galerie Simonne Stern, a contemporary art gallery. She later held the role of Volunteer Coordinator at Touro Infirmary. Upon retirement, she served as a volunteer at both Ochsner Hospital and Touro Infirmary.
Friends and family are invited to attend memorial services on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Lake Lawn Funeral Home; visitation 9-11 am, followed by a service at 11 am and a family only burial in Metairie Cemetery. Donations to Louise S. McGehee School (New Orleans, LA), Christwood Retirement Community (Covington, LA), or St. Tammany Parish Home Health and Hospice (Covington, LA) will be accepted in lieu of flowers.
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