Merle I. Werhan VanVrancken Sempé

Merle I. Werhan Van Vrancken Sempé was born to Isabella E. Winstine and George J. Werhan on January 5, 1923, and departed this life on Friday, May 1, 2015, at 6:30 pm. at the age of 92. She was born in New Orleans, LA, where she went to school and married, but later she moved to Folsom, LA, Friendswood, TX and back to Metairie, LA. Wife of the the late John W. Van Vrancken, Jr. by first marriage and the late Major Harry S. Sempe' of the New Orleans Police Department by second marriage, the loving mother of John Van Vrancken, III (Valerie), Robert Van Vrancken, and Merle Van Vrancken Artigues and step-mother of Carmen Sempe' Schoolmeyer (William) and Charles Sempe'; the grandmother of Jennifer Van Vrancken Dwyer (Stephen), Vanessa Van Vrancken and John Van Vrancken IV (Jessica), J. Gretchen Van Vrancken Hingle Blanchard (Glenn), Robert A. Artigues, Jr. and Michelle M. Artigues; step-grandmother to Adam Schoolmeyer and the late Kevin Schoolmeyer; great-grandmother to John Van Vrancken V and Jamison Hingle. Predeceased by two sisters and two brothers: Claire Block and Edna, George and Emmett Werhan. Most recently, she was a member of the Mike Miley Golden Age Club and a resident of John J. Hainkel Home & Rehab. Visitation will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 3310 Jefferson Hwy. (near Causeway Blvd) on Saturday, May 9, 2015, from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM followed by a memorial mass at 11:00 AM. After the funeral services, friends and family are invited to a reception in her honor from 12:30 pm to 2 pm at The Balcony Ballroom, 4738 Utica St., Metairie, LA between Clearview and Transcontinental Blvd. In lieu of flowers donations will be appreciated to the St. Agnes Parish Catholic Church in her memory. NEPTUNE SOCIETY OF NEW ORLEANS is in charge of arrangements. To sign the guest book, visit www.theadvocate.com.