Ann Armand Austin

July 10, 1910-January 26, 2010

A celebration of life for Ann Austin, 99, will be held Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Cottonport. Officiating will be Father Pike Thomas of St. Jude's Catholic Church, Bossier City. Prior to the mass, the  visitation will be held at Escade Funeral Home at 9 a.m.

Ann was born July 9, 1910 in Cottonport and passed away January 23, 2010 at Grace Home in Shreveport. She is preceded in death by her parents, Delphanie and Pauline Armand; beloved husband, Blume Austin; brothers, Harold, Leo, Herbert and Edgar Armand; sisters, Rita Baglio, Ernestine Jeansonne, Hazel Siemomon, Isabella Chatalier, Ola Tassin, Noemie Siemonon; and granddaughter, Katherine Newberg.

She is survived by one sister, Lena Harmon of Hughes Springs, Texas; her only child, Patricia and loving husband, Fick Newberg of Bossier City; granddaughters, Donna and husband, Dr. Donald Brian and Sharon and husband, Raymond Regard of Shreveport, Debbie and husband, Frank Pilcher of West Monroe, Marilyn and husband, Dr. Boyd Padgett of Winnsboro, and Pamela Newberg of McKinney, Texas; she is also survived by ten great grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.

Ann married the love of her life in October 16, 1929. After their marriage, they moved to New Orleans where they raised their only daughter and later retired in her hometown of Cottonport. Ann Austin, homemaker, was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she sang in the choir and was a member of the altar society. She was a renowned cook; known especially for her Southern dishes. One of her favorite pastimes was family get-togethers. She also enjoyed traveling and cherished her special girls' trips with her granddaughters. Several years after her husband died, she relocated to Bossier City in 1985 where she lived with her child and son in-law until two and half months prior to her death.

Ann celebrated her 99th birthday in July with a large gathering of family and friends.
She was proudly the oldest member of St. Jude Catholic Church. She had friends of all ages and loved life to its fullest. Ann will forever be remembered as being the "life of the party". Her feisty attitude, energy level and sense of style always set her apart from the crowd. She had an endless compassion for people and a steadfast belief in God's love and mercy. Our grandmother, better know as Mee-Mee, will be missed by five generations of family members and all who knew her, but she leaves for us an example to follow, a legacy of love, kindness, compassion, peace and joy.

Pallbearers will be Dr. Donald Brian, Frank Pilcher, Dr. Boyd Padgett, Raymond Regard, Michael Rainer, J.L. Juneau, Bobbie Franks, Ryan Booth and Matthew Padgett.

Published in the Town Talk January 25, 2010

The family is deeply thankful for the loving care and compassion by Dr. Bipin Turkhia, Dr. Michael Acurio, Dr. Michael Walton and the staffs at Willis Knighton Bossier, Heritage Manor Stratmore and Grace Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Grace Home of Shreveport, LA or St. Jude's Catholic Church in Bossier City, LA.

Dearest Grandmother (Mee-Mee),

Did we ever tell you that you're our hero? You're everything, everything we wish we could be.

Oh, and we, we could fly higher than an eagle, 'Cause you are the wind beneath our wings!

Thank you, thank you, thank God for you, The wind beneath our wings!!!

Forever in our hearts,

Your five granddaughters