Darlene Mary (Bailey) Brandstetter who was a wife, mother, grandmother and receptionist for Prudential Realtors Corporate Office in Metairie for many years, ended an eight-year, nine-month journey with dementia in which she slowly withdrew from her full and happy life. She did so in the company of her husband of 48 years and 3 days, Peter E. Brandstetter. Darlene passed away peacefully in her Metairie home on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at the age of 74. Beloved wife of Peter E. Brandstetter; mother of Tara B. LeBouef (Lance) and Jude P. Brandstetter (fianceé Christine); grandmother of Peter R. LeBouef and the sister of Joseph G. Bailey, Jr. (Lisa) and Deborah A. Chiasson. She is also survived by some nieces and nephews, a host of cousins, nanas, other relatives and friends. Daughter of the late Joseph G. Bailey, Sr. and Winnie Robichaux Bailey.
Darlene was born at Baptist Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 3, 1949, grew up in Old Metairie, attended St. Francis Xavier grade school and graduated from there in 1964. She then went to Riverdale High School and was a member of the 1968 graduation class. After graduating from high school, she had several different jobs over the years, but on January 31, 1976, she started a job that she was the very best at for 39 years and 3 months which was being a wife and mother. On April 30, 2015, Darlene was involved in an automobile accident and was knocked out by the airbag. When she came to, she did not know her birthday. She had suffered a traumatic brain injury from the airbag which was the beginning of her frontotemporal dementia's (FTD) eight-year, nine-month evil journey. Thank God it is finally over. Darlene is at peace and has her dignity back.
A sincere and heartfelt thanks to the kind and compassionate caregivers of Hospice Specialists of Louisiana, especially Isabel, Andria, Jamie, Regina, Allie, Will and Craig. Their care and guidance made all the difference in these last 10 1/2 months. Also, a special thanks to her caregivers early on, Alicia Alonzo and Jill Mathews, who were a big reason we were able to get to this point. Finally, there is a very, very special thank you and love from the entire family, including Beaux Jaxson, for Debra Fiegel and Tyshara Washington who were the greatest of caregivers and were with Darlene and our family until the very end. We love all of you and thank you for coming into our lives at our hours of need.
Visitation for Darlene will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home, 4747 Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, Louisiana. A Funeral Mass will follow at 1:00 PM. Interment will be in Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum in New Orleans, LA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Blessed Francis Seelos Shrine, 919 Josephine St., New Orleans, LA 70130, www.seelos.org/donate or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 50, Memphis, TN 38101-9929, www.stjude.org.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LeitzEaganFuneralHome.com.
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