Rita Marie LaGarde

LaGARDE Rita "Missy" LaGarde On Feb. 4, 2011, Rita "Missy" Noonan LaGarde, after a courageous 3 year battle against cancer, joined her parents, John M. Noonan and Margaret Burke Noonan, and her brother John Noonan Jr. in their heavenly home. Missy was the beloved mother of Holly Corbett Guidry, Jean-Paul Noonan LaGarde, and Casey Burke LaGarde. She was the third of 7 Noonans: Margie Blaum, Patsy Eaves, Mary V. Noonan, Katy Kirksey, Charles Noonan, and John Noonan Jr. She attended Holy Name of Jesus grade school, Marywood Academy in Evanston, Illinois for high school, Southeastern La. University (receiving her B.A. in Physical Education) and UNO (attaining a Masters with a 4.0 GPA). Her radiance was recognized all through her life. In college, she received numerous awards and honors, such as Homecoming Queen and Cheerleader. Missy began her career working with children at Sacred Heart Academy and Kehoe-France. After receiving her Masters, she continued her devotion to children by specializing with infants and toddlers with special needs. She was a dedicated Early Interventionist for the Arc of Greater New Orleans until Katrina. After Katrina she continued her dedicated time and love to individualized attention for the children with special needs and their families through infant massage and aquatic therapy. Special gratitude and appreciation is offered to the doctors and nurses of the Oncology and Radiation departments at Ochsner Foundation Hospital, as well as, Touro Infirmary's ER and ICU-3 staff and doctors. Relative and friends are invited to the visitation to be held at the Most Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6367 St. Charles Avenue, on Tuesday, February 8, 2011 from 9am-11am. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 am with a burial to follow.

Arrangements under the direction of Schoen Funeral Home, New Orleans, LA.