Kathleen Cecelia Ford Irving

1946 - 2020

Kathleen Cecelia Ford Irving peacefully passed on June 28, 2020 in Houston, Texas. She was born in New Orleans, LA on December 1, 1946 to the loving union of Fred Ford and Mary Juluke into a large family of 7 siblings including her sisters Evangeline (Eve), Geraldine (Geri), Claudette (Clausie) and Marlene (Mauzi) and her brothers Fred Jr., Arthur and Cyril. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved Aunt Esther, sisters Geri and Mauzi, brother Fred Jr. and Cyril and various members of her large extended family. She was married for nearly 56 years to Ernest Irving Sr. and had four children, Ernest Irving Jr. (Duke), Stephanie Blakes, Wayne Irving and Monique Wiltz. She is survived by her husband Ernest, her four children, sons-in-law Edward Blakes and Quentin Wiltz, daughter-in-law Anjanetta Harrell and her seven grandchildren (whom she lovingly called "her grands") Wayne Irving Jr., Taylor Irving, Alexa Blakes, Orion Irving, William Blakes, Ethan Wiltz and Evan Wiltz, her sisters Eve and Clausie and brother Arthur, the extended Irving and Juluke families and numerous, beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. She was a fun-loving and high-spirited person and enjoyed cooking, dancing, talking and laughing. She was a graduate of Joseph S. Clark High School in New Orleans, LA. As a tribute to her intelligence, strength and drive, after raising her four children, she returned to college in her fifties and earned a degree in Social Work from Tulane University. She worked her entire career as a Social Worker in both New Orleans and Houston in a variety of roles, all in service to the under-served. In her last few years, she worked as a substitute teacher in the Aldine Independent School District where she especially enjoyed working with elementary children. She was a humble servant to her Catholic faith and found comfort and solace in her Lord Jesus Christ and her belief in the strength and power of the holy rosary. She was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church in Houston, TX and St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in New Orleans, LA. Her most cherished possessions were her prayer cards, rosary and altar to her Heavenly Father. She believed all earthly problems could be cured with patience, hard work and prayer. Because of her battle with dementia, she lived her last few months with her beloved husband in a nursing home yet the disease was unable to take her joyful spirit, zest for life and love of food, music and dance. Even in her last weeks of life, her friendliness, laughter and willingness to dance whenever the opportunity arose remained. She was a beacon of joy and faith. She will always be missed and never forgotten.