Ms. Melissa Dawn Warren

Ms. Melissa Dawn Warren was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed her to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, she possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. She had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and she was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Melissa always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Melissa was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Melissa was born on January 21, 1968 at West Jefferson Hospital in Marrero, Louisiana. Her parents were Henrietta & Claude Ferdinandtsen. Melissa was raised in Westwego, Louisiana. Always able to express herself well, Melissa possessed strong interpersonal skills. She was optimistic in her outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in her communication. Armed with a great wit, Melissa was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Melissa was able to relate well with others. Her occasional role as family mediator gave her the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Melissa was raised with one sibling Carla. Melissa had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Melissa showed her creative ability in many ways. She was outgoing and animated. Melissa enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. She took part in baseball & basketball. In her spare time she liked board games.

Friends and acquaintances found Melissa an easy woman to get to know, and those close to her would often praise her open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Melissa was uncomplicated and straightforward in her relationships, which allowed her to accept people for what they were. While growing up, one of her best friends was Monie.

A good listener with an engaging personality, Melissa was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid herself, Melissa identified with the inquisitive and creative side of her children’s personalities. She was able to direct her energy and spontaneity towards helping her children acquire added common sense skills. Melissa was blessed with three children, two sons, Wesley, Larue, Jr. and one daughter, Tiffani.

Melissa was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around her. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Melissa’s strengths included being able to think on her feet. She could be a leader who sought impact for her decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Melissa was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. She was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Melissa could multi-task, and she was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing her to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in her work environment. Her primary occupation was a security guard. She was employed for 4 years at R & L Carriers.

Melissa enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. She had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that she did. She put this creativity toward all of her pastimes. Her favorite pursuits were that she loved to read and play on the computer. She was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

She was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. Recreational sports included working on the cars with the boys and playing basketball. Melissa was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were baseball and Saints football.

Melissa held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to her. She was a member of Assembly of God Church.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Melissa truly enjoyed. She preferred to seek out excitement wherever she went and she was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” She was willing to leave her plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included going on fishing charter boats.

Melissa was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of Melissa’s favorites was her poodle. They were best friends all through her teenage years.

Melissa passed away on October 4, 2010 at West Jefferson Hospital. She had a heart attack. She is survived by Tiffani, Larue, Henrietta and Carla. Services were held at Westside Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home. Melissa was laid to rest in Restlawn Cemetery in Avondale, Louisiana.

Melissa was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, she relied on her senses to increase her involvement and awareness of others. She was always able to provide amusing repartee to her friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Melissa had a theme song written about her, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” She enjoyed her life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Ms. Melissa Dawn Warren.