Mary Jane Brodrick LaCoste

Mary Jane was born in Birmingham, Alabama and grew up in New Orleans. She attended Ursuline Academy graduating in 1951 (Sioux class). She attended Loyola University and in 1954, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education. She also earned a Master’s degree in Special Education from LSUNO (1966) and a Doctorate of Education degree from the University of New Orleans (1977).

While at Loyola she met the love of her life, Alvin William LaCoste and they were married in October 1954 at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, New Orleans.

Mary Jane worked as a teacher, principal and university instructor all while raising eight children with her husband Alvin. She started her career as a teacher at Allen Elementary School and later was a special education teacher at Lakeside School and for the Department of Defense at Zweibrucken Elementary and Kreuzberg Elementary schools. She was a coordinator of special education programs for Jefferson Parish School Board and a principal at Benjamin Banneker and Waggaman schools. She was also an associate professor at West Chester University and an instructor at the University of New Orleans and Xavier University of Louisiana.

After spending fifteen years living and working in Germany and Pennsylvania, Mary Jane and Alvin returned home to New Orleans and moved to the French Quarter. She developed a renewed appreciation of the unique history and customs of her city and began a successful retirement career as a tour guide, journalist and writer. She was colorful part of the French Quarter community and a beloved tour guide for over twenty-five years. She wrote for Louisiana Weekly and authored two books Death Embraced, New Orleans Tombs and Burial Customs and Stained Glass Windows, From Philadelphia’s Historic Houses of Worship. Recently, Mary Jane and Alvin moved to the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans which is where they had raised their children.

Mary Jane loved to travel and was passionate about her family, the city of New Orleans and stained glass. She was involved in numerous volunteer activities throughout her life, including Archdiocese of New Orleans Pre Cana Program, Friends of the Cabildo, Tour Guides Association of Greater New Orleans, Stained Glass Association, religious education programs and local preservation groups. She helped organize and give stained glass tours of local houses of worship.

Mary Jane was the most loving and devoted wife, sister and mother and is survived by her husband of 69 years Alvin William LaCoste, her sister Elizabeth Scott and her children Mary (John) Hurley, Alvin LaCoste, Jr., Patricia (Chris) Tumminello, Edward (Donna) LaCoste, Angela (Scott) Pritchard, Paul (Holly) LaCoste, Linda (Russell) Salaun and Theresa LaCoste. She was a loving grandmother to Chris (Jen) LaCoste, Kevin (Ashley) LaCoste, Kate Tumminello (Jay Mefferd), Cameron (Trilby) LaCoste, Sam Tumminello, Matthew LaCoste, Christine Pritchard, Kelsey LaCoste, Patrick (Lauren) Hurley, Ellen (John) McCandless, Melissa Pritchard, Leslie LaCoste, Jenna Pritchard, Carolyn (Hayden) Bagert, Ally Pritchard, Colin Battard, Jessica Salaun, Riley Battard and Molly Battard and a loving great-grandmother to Claiborne LaCoste, Harrison LaCoste, Ryder LaCoste, Eva LaCoste and Christopher Mefferd.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 775 Harrison Avenue, New Orleans, on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at noon. The visitation will be held at church beginning at 10:00am. The interment will be held after Mass at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, followed by a repass at the Family's Home, 6379 General Haig Street, New Orleans.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in her memory to Ursuline Academy or the charity of your choice.