Clara Van LeMaire Gallinghouse

On the evening of Sunday, June 13, 2021, at the age of 89, Clara Van LeMaire Gallinghouse died peacefully with the love of family members at her side. She was born July 30, 1931 in Prentiss, Mississippi to Roland Ira LeMaire and Clara Baker LeMaire.

Beautiful inside and out, with smooth olive skin and a perfect complexion, Claire’s radiant smile lit up rooms, while her graceful elegance and sweet Mississippi drawl warmed human hearts. The consummate host who loved to entertain, Claire was a true Southern lady who was as comfortable pouring cocktails for friends as she was serving “Mama G’s Chicken” to her grandchildren.

It should come as no surprise that Claire’s favorite read was The Taste of Country Cooking. A pinch of sugar here, an extra pad of butter there, Claire’s version is sprinkled with handwritten annotations that make a good dish, great! There’s also the tipped-in, typewriter drafted and paper clipped dessert recipes of Claire’s mother, Mrs. LeMaire. Pecan Pie and Banana Pudding are just a few of the family favorites that will adorn dinner tables of their decedents for generations to come.

Claire will be lovingly remembered by her two sons, Gerald Joseph Gallinghouse, Jr., M.D. (Nora Montez) and Van LeMaire Gallinghouse (Gigi Brooks); her five grandchildren, Gerald Joseph Gallinghouse, III, Eugenie Evelyn Gallinghouse, Michael Montez Gallinghouse, Brooks Van Gallinghouse, and Grayson LeMaire Gallinghouse; her sister, Mary Leon Miller; her nieces, Peggy H. Castex, Janice G. Colangelo, and Melanie M. Lewis; and her nephews, Scott P. Gallinghouse, Walter W. Gallinghouse, Charles J. Hanemann, Jr., Michael S. Hanemann, M.D., L. Patrick Hanemann, Jr., Charles B. Miller, and Fredrick A. Miller.

Claire was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Gerald Joseph Gallinghouse; and her brother, Roland Ira LeMaire, Jr., who entered Heaven’s gates when he was only 13 due to complications of a ruptured appendix; her sister-in-law, Muriel G. Hanemann; her brother-in-laws, Albert P. Gallinghouse, Walter W. Gallinghouse, Edward E. Miller; and her nephew, Stephen M. Gallinghouse, who also departed God’s Green Earth well before his time.

Claire’s obituary would be incomplete without inclusion of the self-proclaimed “luckiest man on earth”, Gerry Gallinghouse. Claire, or “Precious”, as he affectionately referenced her, was the only human being that could harness his larger than life personality. His adoration for Claire was palpable, and often expressed through any number superlatives stored in his brilliantly complex brain, and delivered from his kind, but overstressed heart. “I love, worship, and adore that woman” resonates brightly. Family and close friends can take solace in Claire’s passing knowing that the couple is reunited. In this special reunion one thing is for certain, Gerry’s loving embrace has been answered by Claire with an extra sweet bourbon old fashioned to compliment her very dry vodka martini.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Memorial Service at LAKE LAWN METAIRIE FUNERAL HOME, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. (in Metairie Cemetery) on Saturday, June 26, at 2:00 PM with Visitation starting at 1:00 PM until service time. Reverend Andrew Gutierrez of St. Catherine of Siena Parish officiating. Interment will be private. To view and sign the family guest book, please go to www.lakelawnmetairie.com.