Louise Mary Incardona Caruso

Louise Mary Incardona Caruso completed her earthly journey on Monday morning, April 6, 2020. Her children and grandchildren were able to express their love in her last days through presence and technology.

Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Anthony Joseph Caruso Sr., her brothers, Frank Incardona and Joseph Incardona, and many other relatives.

She is survived by her three children; Anthony Joseph Caruso, Jr., Ronald Joseph Caruso, and JoAnn Caruso Schneller, nine grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Louise was born July 31, 1922 to Francisco Incardona and Johanna Barattini Incardona in New Orleans, LA. She was orphaned at an early age and with her younger brothers, Frank and Joseph, lived with her grandmother, Louise Incardona, until her marriage on June 29, 1941 to Anthony Caruso. She and Anthony then raised her brothers until they were on their own, along with their own three children: Anthony, Jr., who married Rosa Aguet; Ronald, who married Helen Brice, and JoAnn, who married Stephen Schneller. These children gave them the joy of 9 grandchildren and a further delight of 9 great-grandchildren: Anthony Joseph Caruso III, who married Angela Southern; Christine Caruso, who married Steve Pugh, and had Alana and Abbey Pugh; David Caruso, who married Elizabeth Gootee, and had Vincent, Angelina, and Giavanna Caruso; Bryan Caruso; Margret Caruso, who married Ronald Turiello, Jr., and had Grace and Marcello Caruso-Turiello; Elizabeth Caruso, who married Mark Clark; Daniel Caruso, who married Erin Devoy; Stacie Schneller Lightell, who had Victoria and Madison Lightell; and Stephanie Schneller. To Louise and Anthony, family was everything, and nothing was better than family gatherings and reunions with numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Even those not related by blood or marriage were quickly assimilated into the Caruso family, and countless people from every walk of life have shared Caruso hospitality and referred to Louise as Maw Maw.

In the early years of her marriage, Louise was busy mothering and working with Anthony at A. Caruso Grocery & Bar, on the edge of the French Quarter. She later worked at nearby Crown Drug Store, where she quickly became manager of the gift department. Her employer transferred her to his Village Lady boutique at Lake Forest Plaza mall. Even as a manager there, she was also the top saleslady - she knew exactly what made each customer look her best. Meanwhile, and in the midst of weddings of her children, and welcoming grandchildren, Louise became involved in the Charismatic Renewal, hosting a prayer group in her home, and volunteering with Catholic Charismatic Renew of New Orleans.

She and a friend from their St. Dominic Parish began visiting Lakeview neighbors, bringing Bibles, and other Catholic literature. Their ministry shared their contagious love of God, welcoming many people into, or back into, the Church. Louise also was a member of the lay Carmelites, an expression of her great love of the Blessed Mother. She firmly believed in the strong power of the Holy Rosary, and prayed the Rosary daily (sometimes many times) throughout her entire life. 2004 brought the blessing of the first great-grandchildren, a snowy family Christmas, and Louise and Anthony began planning to move “across the lake” to land they had purchased in Mandeville in the mid-1950s. Their Lakeview neighbors were dismayed by the relocation of their oldest friends in August 2005, but the timing of their move was fortuitous. The day after Anthony and Louise sold their Lakeview home, Hurricane Katrina hit.

Louise and Anthony thoroughly enjoyed their new home in “the country,” gardening and welcoming company. They quickly became active in their new parish, Most Holy Trinity, and made wonderful friendships. Shortly after celebrating their 72nd wedding anniversary in 2013, on July 4, (a day on which they had hosted countless family reunions), Anthony was called home to God, and Louise began life as a widow. While she continued to bring cheer and wisdom to her friends and family, her heart was longing to be with her dear Anthony. When an accident left her unable to walk, Louise moved to Forest Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, where she was beloved by other residents and a caring staff. Visits from family and friends carried her through the many months of her last days, until her wish for heaven was granted. To all those who knew her, whether as Louise, “Miss Louise,” Mom, Mama, Maw Maw, Great Maw Maw, or Grand Maw Maw, she offered boundless love and an eternal example of goodness. May we all be imitators of her in action and spirit!

Our family sincerely thanks the staff at Forest Manor for their loving care over the past two and a half years, and St. Catherine’s Hospice for their extra assistance in Louise’s final days.

During these days of COVID isolation, Louise’s interment will be private, with a memorial service when circumstances allow. The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to St. Dominic Catholic Church (775 Harrison Ave., N.O, LA 70124), Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church (501 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington LA 70433) or the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of New Orleans (P.O. Box 7515, Metairie, LA 70010-7515).

The family understands that due to the COVID-19 virus restrictions, home visits and other traditional condolence expressions cannot be shared at this time but appreciate online messages at www.lakelawnmetairie.com.