Irma Drusilla Weisdorffer Bruce

Irma Drusilla Weisdorffer Bruce passed away Sunday, February 19, 2012 just 11 days shy of her 95th birthday. Known to her peers as "Irma D" and to everyone else as "Grandmother," she was preceded in death by her parents, Irma Josephine Lubeigt and Louis Otto Weisdorffer, two of her brothers, Louis Weisdorffer and Oliver Weisdorffer, her husband, Dr. John M. Bruce, and her eldest daughter, Elizabeth "Betty" Bruce Voelker. She leaves one brother Ronald Weisdorffer, four children and their spouses (David and Melba Bruce, Gregory and Denise Bruce, Margaret and Lynden Camin and Melody Ann 'Mimi' Bruce and David Ray), ten grandchildren (Yvette Voelker, Nelson 'Chip' Voelker, Erin Bruce Saucier, John David Bruce, Gregory 'Trooper' Bruce, Michael Bruce, Robert Bruce, Isaac Ray, Margaret Ray and Arielle Ray) and 4 great-grandchildren (Kristen, Jack, Emilie and Luke) to grieve her loss and miss her stories of growing up in New Orleans nearly 100 years ago. She graduated from John McDonough High School and Margaret C. Henson Normal School. Grandmother taught school at Live Oak and Andrew Jackson Elementary School while attending Loyola University. Later, she owned and ran "Bruce's Mints". She and Dr. Bruce maintained an extended family relationship with a group of friends from the Loyola drama department, who called themselves "The Dramanians". Grandmother was a favorite 'aunt' to the children and grandchildren of that group. After her children left the nest, Grandmother became heavily involved in many diverse organizations. She was President and long time Board member of the Les Enfants de la France, and on the Board of Govern for the Caledonian Society. She also founded and was President of Bon Temps at St. Francis Xavier Church in Metairie, where she tabulated the collections for many years. She moved to Mid-City in 2001, where she became a devoted parishioner of Holy Rosary Church as well as an honorary watch dog of her new neighborhood. She was even noticed by The Times-Picayune for her good-natured mothering of strangers passing on their way to Jazz Fest. "Hey, cher, are you wearing sunscreen?" she'd wonder and then remind them, "Don't get lost now!" But, mainly, Grandmother was a devout Catholic, proud mother and grandmother who loved gardening, playing cards, prayer, a good book and her family. She lived a long, healthy and happy life and spent her last moments in her favorite reading chair. Family and friends of the family are invited to attend the visitation service at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. on Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 8:30am to 10:00am, followed by a Funeral Mass in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to either Pennies for Bread, attn: Fr. Augustine Foley, 75376 River Road, St. Benedict, LA 70457, or to Ozanam Inn, PO Box 30565, New Orleans, LA 70190-0565 would be appreciated. To sign and view the Family Guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com. She will be dearly missed.