Obituary Record

Gardebled, Celine de Landrieu  -  October 6, 1915

Mrs. Celine de Landrieu Gardebled, perhaps the oldest resident of Bay St. Louis and vicinity, died at her home in Toulme street Tuesday morning, October 6, 1915, at 10 minutes to 8 o'clock, after an illness of some time.

A native of Rouen, France, born at that place November 18, 1834, she was 80 years of age at the time of her death. At the age of 12 years she came to New Orleans and when 14 years of age, in 1846, came to Bay St. Louis and resided here continuously ever since, always fond of "la Baie," and a woman with active and remarkable mentality and whose enthusiastic mind and progressive spirit were ever identified with the constructive elements which build Bay St. Louis. She was a woman of culture and literary attainments.

Her charities were unbounded. In time of pestilence, fire, flood, and general calamity, Mrs. Gardebled always took the initiative in raising funds to succor the needy. In this self-sacrificing and ennobling work, she was always successful, and this was due to zealous spirit and indefatigable efforts, prompted by a sense of love and tenderness.

At an early age she married Hypolite Gardebled who proceeded [sic] her to the grave some twenty-six or twenty-seven years since, meeting his death accidentally, a falling timber striking him while engaged in house building. To this union three sons and three daughters were born namely, Mrs. Eulalie Fayard, Mrs. Florence Smelker-Hines, Miss Madeline Gardebled of Bay St. Louis; Messrs. D. V. Gardebled, ex-mayor of Lafayette, LA, Edward C. Gardebled, of this city, and the late Gaston G. Gardebled, at one time mayor, city of Bay St. Louis. Four sisters and one brother survive: Victor Landrieu of New Orleans; Mrs. A. U. Gragnon and Mrs. Casimire Fayard, of Bay St. Louis; Mrs. Jos. Atkinson, of Ebenezer, LA.; and Mrs. Henry Keller, of Kennedy, Texas.

The funeral took place from the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Fayard, in Main street, Wednesday afternoon, and was largely attended, testifying to the high esteem in which the deceased was held. Interment at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

Source: Sea Coast Echo 10-17-1915

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