Marguerite Sheehan Redwine

1943 - 2023

Marguerite Sheehan Redwine, 79, of New Orleans, died June 12, 2023, after a short illness, her children Anna Marie Redwine and John Robert Redwine, at her side. Preceded in death by her husband Robert Allan Redwine. Marguerite was born on September 11, 1943, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to the late Helen Marie Wise Sheehan of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Captain Jeremiah Aidan Sheehan of Manchester, New Hampshire. Marguerite attended Baton Rouge High School and earned a B.S. from Louisiana State University, where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority, and an M.Ed. from Loyola University. Dedicated to community service, Marguerite served as CEO of the non-profit organization, ViaLink, from 1999-2015 providing crisis support services for Louisiana residents. Under her leadership ViaLink became one of the first agencies in the United States to offer the FCC-designated 2-1-1 health and human services hotline, and later the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. She led the organization through the disaster and aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, providing critical uninterrupted support for its services. She was a voice in the resulting national dialogue on emergency preparedness. In the 1970s she served as Associate Executive Director of the New Orleans YWCA, helping launch groundbreaking new programs including rape crisis services and an anti-domestic violence program. For her impactful tenure at the YWCA and other organizations, and her myriad volunteer leadership positions, she has been recognized as an important activist in women's rights and social justice. Marguerite was a consummate board member and fearless fundraiser and facilitator serving on numerous non-profit and education boards, including those of Trinity Episcopal School, Children's Hospital, Trinity Counseling and Training Center (chairman), the Parenting Center at Children's Hospital New Orleans (chairman), the International Project for Non-profit Leadership, and as the president of the Southeast Louisiana Girl Scout Council. Marguerite was a devoted member of Trinity Episcopal Church and served on the Trinity Vestry and countless committees. A lifelong learner, she was completing the rigorous Education for Ministry (EfM) program. She was a dedicated usher and welcomed everyone with dignity and grace. She participated in Trinity Undoing Racism Network and spent her life consciously practicing anti-racism both personally and within the institutions she served. Marguerite was a familiar face at the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club where she was an active member. Survivors include her daughter Anna Marie Redwine (Joe Fern) of Columbia, South Carolina and John Robert Redwine (Claire Redwine) of San Francisco, California, granddaughter, Johanna Ruby Redwine, step-granddaughters Mary Fern and Cece Fern, sister Jeremie Johnson, niece Julia Johnson and nephew Jeremiah Johnson. She is also survived by Jax, her beloved rescue dog. Marguerite will be remembered for her deep faith, her strong spirit, her love of family, her large circle of adoring friends and neighbors, her love of nature expressed in long walks, gardening, and family beach trips, her beautiful smile, and her contagious joie de vivre. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service and celebration at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70130 on September 16th, 2023 at 11:00 am. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to her Trinity Episcopal Church memorial fund or to ViaLink.org. To view and sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.