Alfreda Darensbourg

Alfreda Darensbourg was born in Gramercy, Louisiana on  March 20, 1930 to the late Saraphine and Walter Marmillion. She adored her parents,  grandfather, uncle, sisters, brothers,  and pets, and wrote that they all lived together in the same house as one big happy family.  

She told stories of how she loved playing hide and seek with her childhood dog Flossy, a beautiful fluffy white dog in the Spitz family, She loved Flossy so much that she named some of her later dogs after her, and often spoke of  them as well as a dog named Genie that she nursed from a puppy and of a sweet little bird that she got at a carnival.  She loved animals. Growing up she enjoyed climbing trees and playing with her brothers Reginald and Ernest Marmillion and referred to herself as a tomboy full of adventure and wonderment. She admired her beautiful older sisters as she was the baby. She loved sketching beautiful portraits, often of ladies like her sisters. Her drawings had a movie star quality, but with humble sweetness. They captured life’s beauty whether holiday scenes, a bird in a tree,  or a mother holding a child. Her talent in art  would be gifted to her children and grandchildren. Alfreda enjoyed shopping on Canal Street and going to dances and balls with her family and loved to dance. She was always the first and the last on the dance floor. 

One festive day at her home in Gramercy, Louisiana her eyes fell on Charles Darensbourg and though that encounter did not bring them together, she never forgot that moment. Some years later, she would see him again at her sister’s  home in New Orleans as their sisters were neighbors, good friends and family. This encounter began over 51 years together on Earth and a forever love for each other.

They were married in Gramercy, Louisiana, and moved to Gardena, California (Presently Carson, California) where they bought their house. There in their green and white home surrounded by beautiful flowers and a vegetable garden that they grew together, they raised their children. They had three children Faydra, Charles and the late Felicia Darensbourg. They adored their children and often spent evenings around the table playing cards and other games while listening to music or watching television together and enjoying desserts.  They always looked forward to time with their children and with family. Alfreda especially loved to travel with her family to Louisiana which she called “back home”. They always included their little dog Rexcy on their trips and all family activities, and later their dogs Caeli, Rocky and Empress.

Alfreda was happy that her family grew to have a lovely daughter and son-in-law, Teresa Maury Darensbourg and Jonathan Engel and her first grand cat Cubby that she called Curby. Alfreda always loved babies and children. She and her sister Juanita were the younger of 7 sisters and cared for many nieces and nephews with love.  She was known affectionately as Rerette by many of the little ones, and always shared how wonderful it was for her to become a mother. She loved telling stories about the first time she saw her babies, and treasured being a grandmother to her  three grandchildren, Jeremy, Isabelle and Brandon Charles. Her first grandchild Jeremy was born on her birthday as she predicted. She also enjoyed her fluffy little grand dog Tommy.

Alfreda was an amazing dancer, artist, cook, baker, and seamstress. She continued her higher education in California due to limitations in Louisiana at the time of her youth. She was a wonderful and loving wife, mom and grandma and much loved by her family. Forever is kept in the heart that is loved.

On the evening of  December 12, 2021, Mom (Alfreda) left with a sweet smile on her face as if angels came to take her home. She leaves behind her children Faydra and Jonathan Engel, and Charles and Teresa Maury Darensbourg, grandchildren Jeremy Engel and Isabelle and Brandon Charles Darensbourg, nieces Adriane Allen, Elaine Willis, Deanna Roquemore, Linda Boudoin, Wanda Madere, Barbara Warnie, Saraphine Decuir, Paulette T. Aguilar, Maureen Trege, Angelle Diggs, Noeida Ricks, Patricia Oubre, Merita Adams, Wanette Darensbourg, Beverly Hicks, Bertile Taylor, Barbara Jean Tillman, Jaqueline Mayo, Ursula Darensbourg, nephews Walter and Raymond Ernest Marmillion Jr,. Ashley , Bruce, and Clifton Allen, Lennix Madere Jr., Calvin, Byron, Kerwin and Neal Trege,  Melvin Darensbourg Jr, Jerome and

Michael Ezidore, goddaughter Tijuana Pirro, godson Gilbert Patrick Simon , Van Roy and Julie Smith, cousin Joe Darensbourg, lifelong friends Adrelle and Wally (Adrell and Wallace Green), and many godchildren,  great and great- great and great- great- great nieces, nephews, cousins and other family and friends.

December 13th, our first sunrise here without her was her first in heaven where she has joined her husband Charles Darensbourg Sr., daughter Felicia Darensbourg, parents Saraphine and Walter Marmillion,  her grandfather Felix Le Prey (Grandpa Filmin), Uncle Pap (Joseph LePrey), Auntie Tavie (Octavia) , Auntie Nookie (Noeida), and Auntie Fainy Marmillion, Cousin Doc Ezidore, her brothers and sisters Nesser Rogers, Stella Mae Gerard, Wilhelmina Trege, Irene Madere, Verdail Allen, Juanita Allen, Raymond Ernest Marmillion, Reginald Marmillion, Andrew, Wilbert, Lilian and  Leticia Marmillion, sister in laws Margerette Darensbourg, Emelda Ezidore,  Rose Marmillion, and Doris Alexander, brother in laws Cloves Rogers, Irby Gerard, Alfred Trege, Lennix Madere, William Allen, Michael Allen, Melvin Darensbourg Sr.,  

Jerome Ezidore, and Henry Alexander, nieces Lynette and Tonya Allen, nephews Wilfred Trege, Ronald Max Marmillion, Raynold Smith, Patrick Allen,  and other family, friends and pets that have gone before her.

Mom always said, “I hope there’s music and dancing in heaven” and so,

There was a Christmas Ball in heaven this year and Mom will forever and always be the first and last on heaven’s dance floor.

 

Faydra

 

"Peace is the beauty of life. It is sunshine. It is the smile of a child, the love of a mother, the joy of a father, the togetherness of a family. It is the advancement of man, the victory of a just cause, the triumph of truth."
Menachem Begin