Shirley (Nan) Jumonville Dandry, 83, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2015 with her family at her bedside while listening to her favorite music. Shirley was born on February 16, 1932 in Central Louisiana. For the past sixty years she was a resident of Marrero. Her parents were Inez Landry and Charles Timothy Jumonville. Her siblings include Gertrude Jumonville (deceased), Margaret Jumonville DiGiovanni (deceased), Marie Lois Jumonville Schwartz (deceased), Charles Timothy (Pete) Jumonville (deceased), Jeanette Jumonville St. Pierre (deceased) and Genevieve Jumonville Patterson. She grew up during the Depression and some of her fondest memories were of Christmas where the house was decorated with a huge tree chopped down from nearby woods, colored garland and wreaths of greenery. She loved decorating for the holidays and loved costuming for them, too. Whether it was Halloween where she dressed up as a witch and gave out candy, Mardi Gras or festive parties she was the life of the party. Shirley attended White Castle High School and graduated in 1953 and was salutatorian. She was an “A” student and skilled basketball player. She received a scholarship to college. During her youth she learned the skills of being an entrepreneur and owning her own business. She assisted her father in running the family bakery before and after her mother died at the young age of 39. After her mother died, two women were “mothers” to her and instrumental in her life – “Boonie” Beauregard and Anita Ourso. She worked in Baton Rouge after high school and met her life long friend, Dorothy (Dot) Devillier. Shirley loved life and had numerous friends that she travelled with to the casinos especially Mary Dandry and Sadie Liccardi. In addition to travelling, her hobbies included crafts, word games and writing. She wrote and illustrated a book about her life as a child that will be published. She married local business owner and entrepreneur Anthony Joseph Dandry. They had two daughters, Tonia Dandry Aiken and Tina Dandry Mayes. She “adopted” Julie Bounds and Rita Dandry Legendre as her own during her lifetime. The grandchildren – Brett Johnanthony Aiken, Alexes Elizabeth Aiken, Candace Lynn Aiken, Kyle Wayne Mayes, Matthew Mayes, and Courtney Bounds and great-grand child - Brayden Mayes - were the loves of her life. Her sons-in-law, Dr. James (Jim) Aiken and Larry Mayes were like sons to her and they loved her like a mother. She also leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, godchildren and friends she loved dearly. Grandma or “Maw Maw” was at every football game, basketball game, baseball game, tennis match, dance recital, birthday party and family event. She loved people and loved life! She was spiritual, adventurous and humorous and willing to try anything once. She was also an inventor and received a patent along with her daughters and grandchildren on a personal cooling system. This past carnival season she was “Queen Mother and Royalty” as Tonia and her husband, Dr. Jim Aiken, reigned as King and Queen of Krewe du Vieux for 2015. She was Alexes’ No. 1 Fan – Alexes is a country singer/songwriter and Kyle is the guitarist in the band. Grandma Dandry was always sitting on the front row cheering them on and even travelled to Nashville to see them perform. Her granddaughter, Alexes, and Tonia wrote and recorded a song called “Note on the Mirror” that talked about the romance Shirley had with Anthony and about the loss suffered when he passed away. She loved to cook and taught her grandson, Brett, how to cook. Her specialties were seafood gumbo and oyster dressing. She started Kyle with his love for music by gifting him his first guitar. From that time on, she has enjoyed watching Kyle grow in his abilities of playing music. Shirley enjoyed traveling with her husband and daughters, planning family reunions and holiday parties. She was the ultimate party hostess and loved people to have a great time! For years, Shirley and Anthony owned Dandry’s Food Store on 4th St. in Marrero along with numerous apartment buildings. After retiring, Shirley travelled with her husband all over the United States. She also travelled nationwide with her daughter, Tonia, as a seminar consultant. Her words of wisdom were: “Never give up. You never know what is around the corner.” She was a parishioner of Visitation of Our Lady Catholic Church in Marrero. Donations may be made to West Jefferson Hospital Foundation, 1111 Medical Center Blvd. Suite N-201, Marrero, LA 70072 or online to http://www.wjmc.org/Donate/ for the Shirley and Anthony Dandry Nursing Student Scholarship Fund, 504.349.2525. Relatives and friends of the family are all invited to attend the funeral services on Saturday, June 27, 2015 at Visitation of Our Lady Church, 3500 Ames Blvd, Marrero, LA 70072. Visitation begins at 10:00 a.m. Mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. Interment will immediately follow at Westlawn Memorial Park, 1225 Whitney Blvd., Gretna, 70053. Please view and sign the guestbook, send condolences or fond memories at www.westsideleitzeagan.com.
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