Mary Louise Becnel Stute

Mary “Louise” (Becnel) Stute left her beloved New Orleans after 86 years on March 15, 2015. Born in Vacherie, Louisiana to the late Joseph & Elodie Becnel. Wife and jitterbug dance partner to the late musician, Don Stute. The best “Momma” in the world to Gary Stute (Dawn), Donna Stute Clark (Jim) and Lori Stute Tucker (Spartie). “MawMaw” to her angel, Justin Clark. Sister to the Becnels: Joe, Velma (Schexnayder), Paul, Neil and Helen (Brookman). Aunt to the numerous “Becnel Coozahns”. Louise accompanied her Sailor Husband to fun ports of call (Guam, Alaska, etc) where their children where born & she met life long friends. She was a secretary wherever they landed and she retired after serving as surgeon’s assistant to Drs. Joubert and St. Raymond, where she earned the nickname “Pepper” for reasons we can imagine. After coming back home to Algiers in 1964, she loved to host her Husband’s family from Indiana and their Navy friends on their vacations here, so she could show off her New Orleans. Her Alla Parade parties served as annual Becnel Family reunions. She was an original member of the Canasta Queens with Emelda, Annie, Fay, Joyce, Linda, Bea, and Mabel. She was, of course, a season ticket holder to her New Orleans Saints since the days at Tulane Stadium. Louise was a generous lady with her time, money & home and she made a mean pot of seafood gumbo. She was an innocent, who never understood a rude or crude joke. We cannot think of single time when she had a bad thing to say about anyone. If you would like to get in touch with your inner-Louise, we recommend: listen to music from the Big Band era, watch Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific, eat fried shrimp & wash it down with Barqs, ride the ferry to Café Du Monde, eat an Aunt Sally’s praline, shop on Magazine Street, and during Mardi Gras, remember: she thought the marching bands were much more important than the floats. You may buy flowers for your loved ones or make donations to a neurological research foundation (Parkinsons, Alzheimers, ALS) of your choosing, but what she would really want is for you to spend your money enjoying yourself in the French Quarter. Finally, the family would like to thank Maxi Gaussiran for adopting her “Buddy”. Internment will be private. A French Quarter celebration of Louise’s life will be held at a later date.