Marie Francis Cates Delery

Marie Francis Cates Delery peacefully passed away early in the morning of Oct. 31, 2024. She was loved and cherished by many and will be truly missed.
Marie was born on June 16, 1929, the first child to the union of Sonoma (Decoud) and Sidney Cates, Jr. in New Orleans, La. She attended St. Peter Claver Elementary School and Xavier Prep High School, as well as Straight College, and she was a lifelong and active member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church.
In 1949, she married the love of her life, Ferdinand J. Delery, Jr., and to that union 7 children were born. In addition to caring for her family, Marie also worked as a receptionist at South Central Bell and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.
Marie is survived by two siblings, Sidney Cates, III and Shirley Cates Gueno, sister-in-law Patricia Delery Heisser (Verdell), brother-in-law Wallace Delery, Sr. (Carolyn), and her 7 children, Ferdinand Delery, III (Aida), Joan Delery Pappion (Ferrell Charbonnet), Carl Delery, Sr. (Elizabeth), Peggy Delery-Pospisil (Terry), Gail Delery Sabathia (Kenneth, Sr.), Karen Delery and Alan Delery (Michelle).
She leaves 20 loving grandchildren including Jade Pappion, Tiffany Delery Davis, Carl Delery, Jr., Kiana Delery, Lauren Delery, Dominique Delery Batiste, Wayne Gusman, Jr., Jeanette Delery Capocaccia, Christine Sabathia McCourtney, Tiopol Delery Guillory, Bryan Gusman, Sr., Kenneth Sabathia, Jr., Todd Delery, Haley Delery Molina, Ryan Sabathia, Michael Charbonnet, Sr., Rachel Charbonnet, Adam Delery, Seth Delery and Shane Delery. She also loved her 25 beautiful great grandchildren tremendously and they will all miss her dearly. She also leaves a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who cared for her deeply, including her ever-present care team of Sylvia Peters, Mona Gabriel, Linda Woodcox and Linda Hart.
She was preceded in death by her parents Sonoma and Sidney Cates, Jr., her husband of more than 60 years Ferdinand Delery, Jr., in laws Calvin and Berenice Moret, Bernice and Louis Delery, Sr., Beatrice and Ferdinand Delery, Sr., brother-in-law Norman Gueno and sister-in-law Betty Cates.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, November 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by the Rosary, obituary reading and family tributes at 10:00 a.m., at St. Raymond and St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 2916 Paris Ave., New Orleans, La. 70119, under the leadership of Father Stanley K. Ihuoma, SSJ and officiated by Monsignor John Cisewski. Internment: St. Louis #3 Cemetery, 3421 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, La. 70119. Arrangements entrusted to Duplain W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Ave., New Orleans, La. 70125. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the online guestbook, share memories, and condolences to the family.