Carol L. Wood

Carol "Lori" LeBlanc Wood passed unexpectedly from this world Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008. She was born in New Orleans on Oct. 7, 1954, and moved to Prairieville after losing her Slidell home in Hurricane Katrina. Lori graduated fifth in her class from Charity School of Nursing and received her bachelor's degree in nursing, magna cum laude, from Loyola University in New Orleans. Her accolades in the field of nursing were many. In 1997, she was chosen as one of Louisiana's great 100 nurses and was listed as one of the Great Women of the 21st Century for her accomplishments in the field of nursing. She was also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Honor Society and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. She received countless other awards and recognition for her years of work as a critical care and emergency room nurse at the Veterans Administration Hospital in New Orleans. Her skill and talent as a nurse were surpassed only by the compassion and love she gave to her patients. After her retirement from the VA Hospital in New Orleans, Lori worked as a nurse at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans. She was so loved by all who knew and worked with her. She possessed so many talents, a flair for foreign languages and books, an artistic ability to craft wreaths and floral designs and she was a wonderful dancer. Her only flaw was that she did not know what a wonderful gift she was to those who loved her so much. Lori will be desperately missed by her daughter, Valerie Briggs Bargas; son-in-law, Trey Bargas; beloved grandson, Briggs Bargas; son, Adam Briggs; mother, Rita LeBlanc; sister, Dianne LeBlanc Larmann; brother-in-law, Bernard Larmann III; nieces, Rebecca and Elizabeth Larmann; numerous cousins and so many wonderful friends who are too many in number to list. Lori was preceded in death by her father, Lloyd J. LeBlanc; and her brother, Lloyd J. LeBlanc Jr. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government St., on Saturday, Feb. 16, from 1 p.m. until memorial service at 3 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Hugh Warren. Special thanks to Russell and Bernice Junda and Nanette and Juste Menou, who provided support and friendship that will never be forgotten. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to Capital Area CASA, 341 St. Joseph St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802 or the Susan B. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation, 5005 L.B.J Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75244.