Mildred “Millie” Bouffine Alphonso, of Chalmette, Louisiana, went on to the Lord on Monday, February 26, 2018. Mildred was born in New Orleans on October 28, 1927, and she lived a long and beautiful life of greater than 90 years. She was preceded in death by her childhood sweetheart, Joseph Alphonso, with whom she was married to for 50 years, her daughter, Crystal Marie Alphonso, as well as her five brothers and sisters (Milton (her twin), Julia, Lucy, Joseph, and Eddie).
She is survived by her loving son, Richard “Rick” Joseph Alphonso, JD, CPA (along with his childhood sweetheart Connie B. Alphonso), her only grandchild, Renee Jessica Alphonso (of whom she was immensely proud), her nephew (and 2nd son), Jerry Moran, her niece and godchild, Judy Ann Alphonso Moran, her niece, Debra Bouffine LaBrosse, her lone surviving brother-in-law, Manuel Alphonso, Barbara Alphonso, and her dear friend (and 2nd sister) Aline Drury, as well as numerous nieces and nephews, including Alfred Alphonso (Ruth), Frank Alphonso, Gene Bouffine, Chris Bouffine, John Alphonso (Linda), and Jeanine Alphonso Daughtry (Alan).
Millie grew up and became of age during the Great Depression and emerged an incredibly strong force in her family’s lives; as a result, she understood a lot more about life by the time she was legally able to drive a car than many of us learn in a lifetime. Millie was extremely proud of the fact that she was able to be a loving and devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, godmother, and friend to many, as well as a surrogate family member to so many who were not as blessed as she was. She considered herself so blessed to be able to meet her future lifelong soulmate (“Joe”) at the tender age of seven years old. Millie and Joe were able to raise a family at a time when life just seemed to be a simpler place. Millie went on to have a career with Elmers’ Candy Company in New Orleans for greater than 16 years. She was able to be a devoted mother to Rick and Crystal, as well as a second mother to Judy and Jerry. Millie and Joe developed an entrepreneurial flair with Millie’s Snow Balls for several years. After her working life was in the rearview mirror, Millie devoted the next chapter of her life to the St. Bernard Parish Society for Crippled Children and Adults, an organization devoted to improving lives for physically and mentally handicapped children and adults. She loved life and she loved music, especially the sounds of Fats Domino, Elvis Presley, as well as the vintage country stars of her day. At the tender age of 78, Millie was able to overcome so much adversity during Hurricane Katrina whereby she endured the destruction of her family home, an emergency hospital stay during the hurricane, including an emergency rooftop helicopter evacuation out of a hospital in uptown New Orleans, an overnight ambulance ride to Memphis, and a Medi-Vac plane back to TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas to be rehabilitated after Katrina. Determined to return to her roots, Millie traveled back home to Louisiana, rebuilt her family home in Chalmette, and then she persevered and lived out the final chapter of her life for another wonderful twelve years. Truly, an inspirational woman!
Millie’s family wishes to thank her long term physician, Dr. John T. Thien, Ochsner Hospital in St. Bernard Parish, as well as the loving and caring support she received during her stay at Passages Hospice and Sanctuary in uptown New Orleans. We especially want to express our appreciation for the loving care Millie received from her care giving team at AmeraCare Hospice and, specifically, our guardian angel, Sarah Anderson, RN, who guided our family, cared for Millie, prayed with Millie and prayed for her soul!
A visitation will be held at ST. BERNARD MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME, 701 W. VIRTUE STREET, in CHALMETTE from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Sunday, March 4th, 2018. A Funeral Service and Celebration of Life will be held in Millie’s honor at Noon. She will be laid to rest in St. Bernard Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a contribution to either the Children’s Hospital (Development Department), 200 Henry Clay Avenue., New Orleans, LA 70118 (504-896-9375) or the Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (“SPCA”) in her name. To sign and view the family guestbook, please visit www.stbernardmemorial.com.
