Ruth Sullivan Ward

RUTH ELINOR SULLIVAN WARD, age 89, of Gretna, LA, passed away on Sunday, August, 28, 2016 at Ochsner Medical Center in Gretna, LA. Beloved wife of the late Richard Henry Chapman Ward for eighteen years. Loving mother of Leslie T. Grendahl (wife, Janice) of Diamondhead, MS; Charles E. Perdreauville (wife, Emily) of Garrettsville, Ohio; Letty P. Trosclair (husband, Wilmer) of Franklinton, LA; Cynthia P. Janssens (husband, Adolphe) of Altea, Spain; Judith P. Barrios of Gretna, LA; Irene F. Perdreauville of Hoover, AL; and Shirley F. Perdreauville of Gretna, LA. Stepmother of Belma Smithey of Markham, TX and Ruth R. Swanson (husband, Kent) of Orlando, FL. Also survived by 18 grandchildren, Darrel, Tina, Shelly, Adam, Dara, Debi, Amy, Lori, Ryan, William, Christine, Wade, Craig, Heather, Bradley, Marissa, Natasha and Tanya, and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Sister of Roger Sullivan of Rexberg, ID and the late Alice S. Goodall of Newtown, ND; John Sullivan of Orem, UT; Doris S. Chiasson of Thibodaux, LA; Molly Watts of Mt. Vernon, WA. Loving companion to family pets, Zoey and Zachary. Also survived by many other loving relatives and friends. Ruth was a very loving mother and caring grandmother, affectionately known as “Grammy”. She was born on August 30, 1926 in Garrison, North Dakota to the late James and Louise (Watterberg) Sullivan and spent most of her early years growing up in North Dakota and Idaho before moving to Louisiana in 1945. She remained in Louisiana, mostly in the New Orleans Westbank area for all but ten years of her adult life when she lived in north-central Arkansas. Always hardworking and of pioneering spirit, Ruth established herself as a well-known and talented seamstress throughout the Westbank area, taking in sewing and reweaving to support her growing family. When she wasn’t sewing for work, she could often be found sewing clothes for children, grandchildren and dolls, or crocheting and knitting Afghans, slippers and pillows for family members. She was also quite talented with gardening and woodworking, having refinished many of the pieces in her home. Ruth loved to travel and visit with family near and far and share stories with others about her adventures throughout the US, Canada, and Europe. She also enjoyed rock collecting, white water rafting, canoeing, hiking, camping, and horseback riding at different times in her life. In her later years, almost until her death, Ruth was an avid book reader and card player, often times playing and winning several games per day when visitors were in town. She also loved to sing, and to have others sing along with her especially the old tunes that never left her. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 3245 Manhattan Blvd, Harvey, LA 70058 on Sunday, September 4, 2016 at 1:00 PM. Visitation with the family will follow the service. Interment will be at Port Hudson National Cemetery at a later date. To sign the online guest register, please visit http://www.neptunesociety.com/location/new-orleans-cremation. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (http://www.alz.org) or the Louisiana SPCA (https://www.la-spca.org).