Mary Giorlando Byrd

Mary Giorlando Byrd, 93, a native of New Orleans, LA, died at her home in Metairie on Monday, August 14, 2017, surrounded by her devoted family. During World War II, while she was still a teenager, she worked as a Blackout Operator for Civil Defense, reminding citizens to turn off or cover their lights at night so that any enemy planes could not locate highly-populated New Orleans. Mary’s Civil Defense armband is currently on exhibit at the National World War II Museum. During the war, she and other patriotic young women of New Orleans, by their kindness and friendship, helped to support the morale of servicemen passing through the city. Mary was a professional switchboard operator for Southern Bell, then Brent House, and finally the Hyatt Regency Hotel, where her work was honored at her retirement. Mary was an avid gardener, and she especially loved the roses in her yard and the figs she both tended with care and dried for later use in her outstanding Italian fig cookies. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, from-scratch banana pudding, fried chicken, and lasagna are just a few of her beloved specialties. She was committed to her faith, and throughout her life her labor of love was cooking and preparing St. Joseph’s Altars with other family members and friends. Fond of travel, she visited Hawaii, and she made a pilgrimage in the 1980s to Medjugorje in Yugoslavia (now Bosnia-Herzegovina), where apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary have appeared.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 44 years, Emory A. Byrd, Sr. She is survived by her three loving children, Theresa Byrd Northrop (Brian), Emory A. Byrd, Jr. (Carole) and Jeanne Byrd Brophy (Neil); her beloved grandchildren, Allix E. Byrd, Casey Toner (Chris), Sophie McDonald, Dillon McDonald, and Ryan Brophy; and her adorable great-grandson, William Emerson Toner. She is also survived by a sister, Antoinette G. Ricca, as well as many nieces and nephews. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations in Mary’s memory be made to the charity of your choice. Arrangements entrusted to Neptune Society, 3801 Williams Blvd, Kenner, LA.