Ann Wilbert Arbour

Ann Bryant Wilbert Arbour died peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2007. She was 84, born June 29, 1922, in Plaquemine. Mrs. Arbour attended College of the Sacred Heart, Grand Coteau, and was a graduate of LSU. Mrs. Arbour was a constant and committed volunteer to her Catholic faith and the Baton Rougecommunity. She was appointed to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem by Bishop Stanley Ott and held the rank of Lady Grand Cross and was a recipient of the Pilgrim's Jerusalem Shell. She served as president of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, Catholic Diocesan Council of Home and School Associations, Church Women United, Baton Rouge Eye Bank Auxiliary, of which she was a founding member, Sophie Barat Chapter of the Sacred Heart Alumnae Association, St. Aloysius Altar Society, Sacred Heart Home and School Association and Catholic High School Mothers Club. She was a member of the committee that founded theLouisianaArts&ScienceCenter. A longtime member of the Junior League of Baton Rouge, her suggestion of River Road Recipes was chosen as the name for the league's now famous cookbook. Mrs. Arbour served on the board of directors of Good Fellows-Good Samaritans, Baton Rouge Arts andScienceCenter, SJA Foundation of St. Joseph's Academy, and she was a founding member of the Baton Rouge Speech and Hearing Foundation. Mrs. Arbour faithfully volunteered at St. Aloysius Parish for many years. In earlier years, Mrs. Arbour was recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense during World War II and was presented with the Civilian Defense Medal. She served as Central Division chairman of Capital Area United Way and served on its Inter-Civic Council. She was a founding member of the Baton Rouge Diocesan Latin-American Commission under Bishop Robert E. Tracy. She was a founder of the first Camp Fire Day Camp in the Baton Rougearea and was the recipient of a National Camp Fire Award for her volunteer work in that organization. She was a life member of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center Auxiliary and Court of St. John 1214 of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas. She was life member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and a recipient of its 65-year membership pin. An avid reader, she was a founding member of the Questors Book Club. She held membership in numerous other educational and community organizations. Mrs. Arbour was recognized by theSt. John'sHigh School(Plaquemine) Alumni Association for her devotion to the ideals of Catholic education, generosity and loyalty. Together with her husband, Sidney, she was also honored by the SJA Foundation of St. Joseph's Academy for her many years of outstanding community service. "Annee", as she was lovingly known to her family, is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Sidney Vincent Arbour Jr.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Peter Wilbert and Alice Ford Arbour of Houston, Sidney Vincent Arbour III and Kathryn Acree Arbour of Mobile, Ala., and James Gerard and Candyce Hiter Arbour of Magden, Switzerland; three daughters and sons-in-law, Julia Maria and Kevin Patrick McClanahan and Mary Grace and Albert Raymond Miller, all of Atlanta, and Ann Frances and Peter Michael Olyniec of Houston; grandchildren, Brian Kearney Arbour of Austin, Texas, Megan Arbour Long of Houston, Blake Patrick Arbour of Baton Rouge, Kevin Patrick McClanahan Jr. of Eureka, Calif., Flynn Patrick McClanahan and Molly McClanahan Welch, both of Atlanta, Thomas Alexander Dechman III of Brussels, Belgium, Alexandra Miller Cornwell of Atlanta, Caitlin Grace Miller of Washington, Sophie Claire Olyniec of Houston, Sidney Vincent Arbour IV, Joseph O'Neal Arbour and Jonathan Bryant Arbour, all of Mobile, Benjamin Hiter Arbour of Bryan, Texas, and James Andrew Arbour, USN, stationed in San Diego; six great-grandchildren; brother, Peter Gabriel Wilbert and his wife, Gloria, of New Orleans; sisters, Lilla Grace Wilbert Williams and Maria Theresa Wilbert Reeves, both of Plaquemine; and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary Lilla Bryant Grace and Peter Michael Wilbert, who were of Plaquemine; and sister, Lydia Alyce Wilbert Grace. Annee lived a life of faith, love, generosity, leadership and loyalty. The celebration of her life will be held at St. Aloysius Church. Visitation on Monday, Jan. 8, was from 6 p.m.to 8 p.m.Visitation at the church on Tuesday is from 10 a.m.until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m.Interment inRoselawnMemorial Park. Memorials may be made toSt. JohnHigh School, 24250 Regina St., Plaquemine, LA70764, St. Joseph's Academy, 3080 Kleinert Ave., Baton Rouge, LA70806, orCatholicHigh School, 855 Hearthstone Drive, Baton Rouge, LA70806.