Lily May Darensbourg

Lily May Morrison Darensbourg entered into this world on Sunday, December 3, 1933. She was born in Tela, Honduras and was one of the eldest of several children born to the union of the late Cephas Ali Hall and Eleanor Morrison Hall. She loved and cherished her siblings as her own and disciplined them with love and respect for everyone. Lily has always had a sense of independence and a survivor’s spirit! At the age of 18, she left her native Honduras and emigrated to the United States by herself. She decided to claim New Orleans, Louisiana as her new home, but never disregarded the significance of her Honduran roots and was proud to always acknowledge her birthplace. She was big believer in education and enrolled herself in Walter L. Cohen High School where she completed her high school education. She then attended the University of New Orleans (UNO) and majored in Education. She often recalled how she was often the only Black student in many of her classes. Lily also met the love of her life, the late Oscar W. Darensbourg, whom she married within one year of courtship. From this 46-year union, four children were born – Donna Maria, Deborah Marie, Darleene Marina, and Antonio Wilfred. Lily loved children, was a teacher at heart, and taught at a number of nursery schools in the New Orleans area. Many of her former students at Epiphany School fondly describe her as their favorite teacher. Lily also loved gardening and always beamed with pride about her garden where she grew beautiful flowers and fresh fruit and vegetables that often made their way to the Family table of her Annette Street home. Her favorite flowers were lilies and roses but she was especially fond of the beautiful magnolia tree that grew in a corner of her backyard and would place fresh blooms throughout her home. She enjoyed socializing with her Annette Street Neighborhood Family and considered them all Family, including the Families of Augustine and Warren Bastian, Violet and Sonny Crawford, Doris and Sidney Wicks, and Linda and Byron Woods. She even called Stacy Bastian “her other daughter” who she remained in constant contact throughout her lifetime and who would regularly send her special gifts. Lily had such a strong sense of Family and instilled this in her children who still remain close friends with all of the Families mentioned. Lily was also a homemaker and was extremely proud of the shotgun double that she owned with Oscar and enjoyed sitting on her porch, reading the Bible or her newspaper, sipping coffee, and fellowshipping with neighbors. Steeped deeply in her faith, she lived it daily with her kindness to strangers and her welcoming spirit, and many would sit on her porch and engage in conversation with her. Everyone in the neighborhood knew and loved her! Her home also served as the second home for many of her nieces and nephews during the summers. Becoming a Grandmother gave her the blessing of becoming a Mother all over again and she was affectionately referred to as MeMe. Lily was a Christian woman of strong faith and enjoyed singing hymns. She dearly loved attending church and was an active member of every church where she served as a member. For several years, she was an active member of the church choir at Corpus Christi Church. When she relocated uptown following Hurricane Katrina, Annunciation Episcopal Church became her new church home. She was a fixture there and continued to watch Annunciation’s broadcasted services from her home in Lincoln, Nebraska, after moving there in 2017 to live with her devoted daughter Debbie. She leaves a legacy of love and spirit of Family to be passed forward by her four children her daughters Donna Darensbourg-Rayford (Michael) of New Orleans, LA, Deborah Gaspard of Lincoln, NE, Darleene Peters (Gary, Sr.) of New Orleans, LA, and son, Antonio Darensbourg, Sr. (Revonda) of New Orleans, LA. She also leaves to cherish her siblings Julia, Rosa, and Robert Hall of Brockton, MA, Olivia (Edet, Sr.) of Randolph, MA, Etta Hall Parker of Johnson, VT, Charlie Hall (Teresa) of Sweden, Christina (Odis, I) of Charleston, SC, Leonard, Sr. (Brenda) of Huntsville, AL. MeMe leaves a legacy of 10 grandchildren who totally adored her - Jordan D. Darensbourg, Sr. (Sanaz), Derick Gaspard, Jr., Dominique Gaspard, Sr. (Kassandra), Gary Peters, Jr., Dillon Peters, Alexis Peters, Desiree Rayford, Dominique Rayford, Antonio Darensbourg, Jr. and Reya Darensbourg. MeMe leaves a legacy of 6 great-grandchildren who adored her - Jordan D. Darensbourg, Jr. Dominique Gaspard, Jr., Darrion Gaspard, DaeJah Gaspard, Dekari Gaspard and Diani Gaspard. She also leaves a host of devoted nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that span throughout several states, as well as London, England and Sweden. Lily was preceded in death by her husband, Oscar W. Darensbourg who departed this world in 2001 and with whom she is now reunited, parents Ollie Hall and Eleanor Morrison Hall, brothers Alden Hall and Richard Hall, and sisters Rosalind Morrison, Eva Evans, Maria Hall, and Elva Grant. She will be deeply missed but her spirit continues to live on and remain with us All. Rest in Heavenly Peace, MeMe. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at Corpus Christi Epiphany Catholic Church, 2022 St. Bernard Avenue on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 10:00 am. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am. Interment: Garden of Memories Cemetery. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue.

Lily May Darensbourg

November 5, 2022