Velma Eaglin

Miss Velma Eaglin (“Nan”) was a very much loved and respected Eaglin matriarch, proud child of Opelousas, resident of New Orleans, and resident “Mayor” (family named) of St. John Berchman Manor Senior Living Community. She would proudly state her birthdate of July 16, 1924 and say “they tell me I’m 99 years old!” She passed into eternal glory with her other seven siblings and parents, on the anniversary of her niece’s death of May 14, 2024, after experiencing the pride and pleasure, yet ravages of older age. Growing up on a farm in Opelousas with her sisters and brothers, and in a community with many Eaglin bloodline relatives, she attended Holy Ghost Elementary and High School. After her graduation, her elder sister, Olympia, who resided in New Orleans for college, brought her to New Orleans to live with her for further life opportunities. Velma attended Xavier University of Louisiana enrolling in a Physical Education curriculum for a short period. She did not complete college “because I had to work”. She worked at the historic Lane Cotton Mill before she became a housekeeper/environmental services aide at Southern Baptist Hospital, now Ochsner-Baptist Medical Center. She would work there for 30+ years and even up to her last hospitalization spoke fondly of her years there at Baptist Hospital. While she came through Hurricane Katrina itself relatively unscathed, the flood that followed found her stranded on her neighbor’s upper duplex porch for several days until she was rescued and evacuated to places she did not know, and eventually was found at Fort Smith, Arkansas. She recounted this story to her family, but she did not speak of it anymore after that time. She came to reside with her nephew Cosmas, Jr, in Flint Michigan then her nephew Fulton and family in Ann Arbor, Michigan near her brother in Ypsilanti, MI. After attending the piano degree recital of “her little boy”, Michael, at University of Michigan-Flint in 2009, she returned to New Orleans with her sister Olympia and family. In 2010, she moved to St. John Berchman Manor Senior Living Residence and soon became a member at St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. There, at St. John, she entwined herself into the activities of the residential community, including being one who religiously prepared the community room and altar for Catholic mass on Saturday afternoons. She also met someone who would become her constant, true, best friend, someone whom she cherished to the end of her days – Pat Watson! She especially loved Pat’s meals that she regularly prepared for her, and no one could top Ms. Pat’s gumbo! Velma knew practically everyone in the building, and many of the family members of the residents – adults and children. After the COVID pandemic of 2020, and due to encroaching medical issues, her activities slowed, interactions, as did regular presence in the community room and “sitting out front” with other residents. She received 24/7 supported care in her apartment through the kindness and generosity of her ever present and tireless sitters, Pat Donate, Terry Watson and her dear friend Pat Watson. Though everyone excitedly looked forward to her celebration of 100 years of life on this earth, she, the ancestors, and God had a different plan. After her recent hospitalization, she was welcomed back into the place she loved, the place she called hers and called home, with the support of Passages Hospice. She passed into eternal worldy sleep yet eternal life in Christ the morning after her arrival back home. She leaves to cherish her memory and celebrate the many laughs of wry wit and humor: widowed sisters-in-law Carina (Aloysius Matthew) Eaglin and Elaine (Cosmas Sr) Eaglin; eight nieces and nephews (Cosmas Eaglin Jr, Fran (Ray) Garza, Valerie Eaglin, Kathann El-Amin (Velma’s godchild), Rosalie Boucree (Velma’s godchild), Cheryl Eaglin, Michael (Ivan) Boucree, Aloysius Matthew (Jasmine) Eaglin III); fifteen grand nieces and nephews; and eighteen great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Anna Richard Eaglin; siblings Aloysius Matthew Eaglin I, Aloysius Matthew Eaglin II, Simon Peter Eaglin, Olympia E. Boucree, Cosmas Eaglin Sr, Patrick Sylvester Eaglin, Aristide Eaglin, Agnes Magloire Eaglin; sisters in law Vera (Cosmas Sr) Eaglin, Marguerite (Simon) Eaglin; brother-in-law John Harold Boucree; nephews Patrick Gerald Eaglin, Fulton Eaglin, Paul Eaglin, niece Jeanne B. Eddington. The family wishes to thank her wonderful Ochsner physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, nurse aides, therapists, and many others she interacted with in delivering wonderful care to her. She was always sure to provide a sincere “thank you” to all caregivers, no matter what they had to do with her, for her, or to her. A special thanks to: Susan Demesia, NP, KJ Carstarphen, MD, Karen Blessey, MD, Ella Choe, MD, Scott Hebert MD and caregivers at Ochsner-Baptist and Ochsner Medical Center-New Orleans, as well as Passages Hospice. The family extends appreciation for the love, caring, fellowship, and friendship the residents, management, administration and Sisters of the Holy Family provided to her as a resident of St. John Berchman Manor. Special acknowledgment and appreciation to Pat Donate, Terry Watson, and Pat Watson without whose friendship, generosity and caring would have left a void. Last but certainly not least, to her niece and godchild, Rosalie, whose return visits home were always anxiously awaited and even the shortest time away was too long! And, to her non-biological child whom she affectionately called “my little boy”, Michael. She proudly loved him and whom with his paternal grandmother, she raised and cared for him in his elementary years, nurtured and watched grow and celebrate his graduations and wedding. Her love did not go unrequited as he was able to tenderly care for her in her last 13 years as she cared for him in his early 13 years. Funeral services will take place at Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue, on May 28, 2024. Viewing at 9:00 am with Rite of Christian Burial services to follow at 10:00 am. Interment will be at St. Patrick Cemetery #3. In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorial donations and contributions may be made to the John Harold and Dr. Olympia Boucree Endowed Scholarship at Xavier University of Louisiana, c/o Institutional Development, attn: Terese Bennett, #1 Drexel Drive, New Orleans, LA 70125. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue, New Orleans, LA. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook. Funeral can be live streamed @ www.facebook.com/D.W.RhodesFuneralHome/live