Barbara Breland Kelly Maestri Roussel

Barbara Breland Kelly Maestri Roussel passed peacefully due to diabetes on July 22, 2018, a day after her birthday. A Catholic, she follows her family in faith who preceded her, and now watches over the remainder of her loving family. Born on July 21, 1937, to William Alonzo Breland of Beaumont, MS, and Noemie Delery Savage Breland of New Orleans, LA, who both pre-deceased her along with her sister Joan Breland. She is survived by her only child, son J. Bart Kelly, III, Esq., her daughter-in-law Kaitlin Watkins Kelly, and her grandson (age 3) John "Jack" B. Kelly, IV.

She is also survived by her loving sisters Noemie ("Amie") Breland Seba and Elizabeth ("Betty") Breland Trachtman, and brothers-in-law Richard Seba and Dr. Louis Trachtman, and her niece Heather Harllee (and her children Caroline, David and Will Zimmer) and nephew Clay Trachtman, as well as her cousin Nancy Jean Savage and other cousins.

Barbara was married to John B. Kelly, Jr., and then remarried and widowed to Dr. Norman A. Maestri, Jr., DDS and then to Herbert J. Roussel, all of whom pre-deceased her. She was devoted to and appreciated each of her husbands.

She was born and raised in the Esplanade Ridge area of New Orleans, attending St. Joseph's Academy, Loyola University, and then receiving her degree as a professional pharmacist from Northeast La. University in Monroe, where she was a sister of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. Throughout her life she remained active in AOPi and its local alumna chapter.

Barbara was a member of several professional pharmaceutical organizations, as well as social organizations in which she participated with her sisters, including the Daughters of the American Revolution, Spirit of '76; Louisiana Colonials; Daughters of 1812; Founders of New Orleans; and France Amerique.

Barbara loved gardening, dancing, bargain shopping, and activities with her family and friends. In addition to her early profession in pharmacy, she obtained licenses in real estate and insurance, and ran a dental office and a household. She was a creative problem solver, who wasn't afraid to invent a fix to any situation. She was both an active shopper and a generous donator to Goodwill.

She raised her son in River Ridge before her later years in Metairie. She enjoyed her neighbors, friends and family, as well as her son's friends and their families, to whom she grew very close. She brought both laughter, tenderness, and humility to those around her. She was, above all, a loving and devoted mother, ever mindful of the example set by the Blessed Mother whom she revered, as her mother had before her.

Her playful spirit and humble code of honor lives on in her loved ones and will pass on to her grandson, with whom she shared an immediate and innate bond. She will be missed and appreciated by her family and friends all of their days.

A memorial eulogy and mass will be held at 11:00 AM on this Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd., New Orleans. There will not be a separate visitation or wake.