Dorothy Farnet Stakelum

DOROTHY (DOLLY) MARIE FARNET STAKELUM died quietly at home surrounded by family and friends on December 29, 2012. A native of New Orleans, she was born July 29, 1925 and grew up on LePage Street and Esplanade Avenue. Dolly was the eldest daughter of Marcel Joseph, Sr. and Dorothy Louise Stewart Farnet. She is survived by four siblings including Corinne (Jimmy) Villarrubia, Yvette (Henry) Gonzales, Marcel (Madeleine) Farnet, Jr., and Stewart (Aimee) Farnet.
She met the love of her life Patrick Paul Stakelum (deceased) while working as an Assistant Editor for Louisiana Power and Light Company and they married and had seven children. Children and spouses include Sr. Kathleen Stakelum, MSC, Mitch and Peggy Stakelum Daniels (deceased), Patrick Joseph Stakelum, Richard Allen and Jody Andrews Stakelum, Rev. Ron and Mary Ann Stakelum Langford, Sonny and Rita Stakelum Schaubhut, and Kevin Joseph and Deborah Bailey Stakelum. She loved her seven grandchildren: Derek Stakelum, Zach and Becca Schaubhut, Anna Marie Langford (Joshua) Cole, and Brigid, Edward, and Caelan Stakelum.
An avid artist, Dolly’s paintings hang in some of the finest homes, restaurants, and offices in the New Orleans area. She was a charter member of the Westbank Art Guild, and was an active member of the New Orleans Art Association, Artina, Louisiana Watercolor Society and the Westbank Plein Aire Group. She was awarded the Mildred Lewis Award from the Westbank Art Guild for promoting the Arts. She also taught art to elementary students in grades one through eighth at Arden Cahill Academy for nineteen years.
A devout Catholic, Dolly was an active member of St. Julian Eymard Parish and more recently Holy Spirit Parish. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and the Third Order of Mary. The Archdiocese of New Orleans awarded Dolly and her husband Pat the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion for outstanding service to the Archdiocese.
Dolly enjoyed taking classes with the People’s Program at Holy Spirit Parish.
The family extends much gratitude to Elysia Recasner and other sitters from the “Always There Sitting Services”. Elysia was a vigilant caretaker to Dolly in her recent illness. Thanks also to Eagan Hospice for making it possible for the family to fulfill Dolly’s wish to be home for Christmas surrounded by her family.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to American Cancer Society, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Westbank Art Guild, Covenant House and Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Dolly’s life at Mothe Funeral Home, 2100 Westbank Expressway, Harvey, LA 70058, Wednesday January 2, 2013 6PM until 9 PM. Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 6201 Stratford Place, New Orleans, LA 70131. The viewing will be held at 10:00 am and Mass will be held at 11:00 am. Interment immediately following the Mass at Westlawn Cemetery, 1225 Whitney Avenue, Gretna, LA 70056.