Martha L. Owen

1940 - 2023

The Owen family of New Orleans sadly announces the passing of its matriarch, Martha L. Owen. Born October 26, 1940, in New Orleans, she left this earthly existence July 2, 2023, in Baton Rouge at the age of 82. As a child Martha showed an interest in pursuits that reemerged in later life. The back porch and garage at home became a school, a library, a grocery store, a business office, a space ship, and an army barracks. As always, she was in charge. Martha attended St. Rose de Lima and McDonogh No. 15 elementary schools, St. Louis Cathedral School, and McDonogh No. 28 Junior High. In 1958 she graduated from John McDonogh Senior High, maintaining long friendships to the present with her classmates through the Yak-Yaks alumni group. As a teenager Martha's first job was as clerk at Villere's neighborhood pharmacy and soda fountain. As Worthy Advisor of Ben Kippes Assembly #56, Order of the Rainbow for Girls - a Masonic youth service organization - Martha organized a statewide drive to collect donations for the Louisiana Chapter of the American Heart Association. Martha was a member of the first class at Louisiana State University in New Orleans, working as a page at the Robert E. Smith Library in Lakeview, before transferring to Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, where she wrote for the local Daily Comet newspaper. While writing for that newspaper during Hurricane Betsy, she found a career as Executive Director of the Southeast Louisiana Chapter of the American Red Cross (which years later inspired one of her nieces to join that organization). In this position she traveled to posts in Lafourche Parish, Forrest County, Miss., Atlanta, Ga., and Lansing, Mich. After returning to Louisiana, she worked at The Blood Center of New Orleans, creating a volunteer blood-donation program for the area. Martha was instrumental in developing the Arts District in New Orleans' Central Business District. In this vein she oversaw renovation of one of the famed Thirteen Sisters of Julia Row, using its space to open the Louisiana Products grocery and deli. The store became the meeting place for residents and commuters in the American Sector/Lafayette Square district from its opening in 1985 until its closing in 2018. Describing it as "a tiny Creole deli in New Orleans' Warehouse District," Ian McNulty of The Advocate observed "Louisiana Products has always been an anomaly. . . . In the early going it was a sign of change in a long-woebegone neighborhood, New Orleans' skid row, that was just starting to come into its own again. . . Much later, it would feel like a holdout in a neighborhood where the pace and scale of change had greatly expanded, and where touchstones of the old New Orleans are dwindling." As one customer noted of the store, as well as of Martha and her sister Melanie, "This is the womb of this neighborhood, and they're the heart. . . They have done so much for us." A feminist entrepreneur, Martha created Louisiana Specialties, otherwise known (like the name of the deli and grocery) as Louisiana Products, to promote the works of local artisans around Jackson Square. She did so at a time when most New Orleans souvenirs were made overseas. She was a founder and board member of Women in the Mainstream, which oversaw creation of the Women's Pavilion at the 1984 World's Fair in New Orleans. Martha served as Secretary of the Lafayette Square Neighborhood Association and was an active member of the Julia Street Improvement Association, part of a coalition that preserved historic properties by making the American Sector a federal historic district. She also campaigned to save Charity Hospital. Martha became aware that LSU was promoting the abandonment of Charity Hospital in spite of the fact that 'Big Charity' had been cleaned up and certified by the Indiana 82nd Airborne Command as ready for reuse with no delay. She activated many civic-minded residents by rallies, lobbying and PR to fight the injustices brought about by the effort to close Charity. Although 'Big Charity' was ultimately replaced, the historic building remains as a testament to its importance in the lives of New Orleanians. Throughout her life Martha worked to keep the Syrian and Lebanese cultures alive in Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast. As a member of the Syrian Lebanese American Club youth group, Martha was named Woman of the Year by the Southern Federation of Syrian Lebanese American Clubs. After editing the Southern Federation Bulletin for several years, she continued to help with its publication for many more years. Martha chaired the Federation Resolutions Committee and wrote countless Federation resolutions for conventions and conferences. Moreover, she founded the Aoun Moujaess Club and was involved in Maloofs International, family societies dedicated to preserving their Middle Eastern heritage. At the encouragement of civic leader, Blanche Comiskey, to "just spread the word" to save St Alphonsus on Constance St., Martha did just that, telling those who came into her store about the efforts of the Friends of St Alphonsus (FOSA) to raise funds for the roofs, bell tower and trusses. She then joined the FOSA Board, aided in writing an SBA loan, and suggested marketing strategies for the annual cultural events by FOSA. Her contributions helped to save the Domenico Canova Ceiling Frescoes, and FX Zeitler, Bavarian Institute, Religious Stained Glass Windows from further damage. More recently she served on a committee advocating for a U.S. postage stamp honoring poet Kahlil Gibran. She also sought to have the names of U.S. veterans of Syrian and Lebanese descent engraved in bricks at the National World War II Museum. Martha was preceded in death by her father Najeb Kalil Owen, her mother Asma Badouh Owen, and her brother Kalil N. Owen, all of New Orleans. She is survived by her sisters Marian V. Owen of New Braunfels, Tex.; Minerva A. Owen Tobin of Lafayette, La.; and Melanie M. Owen of New Orleans; nieces Jamie Asma Owen Strahan (Tommy, Poplarville, Miss.), Suzanne Tobin Courville (Don, San Diego, Calif.), Kara Tobin Murphy (Harry, Lafayette, La.), Mindy M. Tobin (Lafayette, La.), and nephew C. Stephen Tobin (Becky, Fort Worth, Tex.); great-nephews and -nieces Hendrik, Micah and Jonathan Matthysen; Colette and Alexandre Bernard; Katherine Courville; Lindsey Lopez (Dylan) and Kelsey Strahan (Jay Welch, fiancé), and great-great-nephew and -niece Jonah Matthysen and Rala Foreman. Cousins abound around the world. Visitation and Phoenecian Buffet will be held on Friday, September 8,2023, 5-9pm at Schoen Funeral Home, 3827 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70119. Memorial Celebration of Life will be Saturday, September 9th, 10-11:45 at Schoen. Interment to follow at Lakelawn Cemetery, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, 70124. In lieu of flowers, please donate in the name of Martha Louise Owen to Friends of St Alphonsus, Louisiana Landmarks Society, the Preservation Resource Center, the Syrian, Lebanese American Club of New Orleans (Scholarship Fund) or the charity of your choice.