4G F Wednesday, December 23, 2015 F theneworleansadvocate.com F The Advocate
Sandra Di Prieto, Sharon Toups and Kerry Milton
Jennifer, Gwen and Ron Gitz
Angels light the night in Covington
John Desrosiers and Arlette Delcham
The 2015 “Angels of Light” program featured live music, including harpist Jessica Meltz, and refreshments — all centered on a 15-foot, beautifully decorated tree featuring flowing red ribbons and adorned with individually crafted “tribute” angels. Each angel honored or memorialized a loved one. The benefit for the St. Tammany Hospital Hospice was held in early December in the St. Tammany Parish Hospital main lobby in Covington. The 2015 Hospice Tree for Life was dedicated in loving memory of Ronald Albert TAMMANY Gitz Sr. by the Gitz family. Mr. SCENE Gitz’s son, Ron Gitz Jr., provided a MISSIE wonderful reflection on the work NOEL his father did for the community. The Tribute Angels were sponsored by the Dunavant family and dedicated to the memory of Darren Johnson and Delores Acy Tackett. Additional special sponsors included David and Carolyn Biggs, Gilbert J. Hattier III and PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans. The welcome and invocation were delivered by Rock Kendrick, vice chairman of the hospital’s Board of Trustees, and the Rev. Daniel C. Vanek, hospital chaplain. Following musical entertainment by St. Scholastica Academy choir members Emily Ruli, Madeleine Bechac and Hannah Cole, Cheryl Bates and Ada Marion read each name included in the honor and memorial ceremony. The evening was a wonderful tribute to special memories and family members. Proceeds from Angels of Light help the St. Tammany Hospital Hospice provide palliative and supportive care to terminally ill patients and their families. The dedicated angels and Advocate photos by MISSIE NOEL Hospice Tree for Life will remain on display throughout December.
St. Tammany Parish Hospital President and CEO Patti Ellish with Paula Toups, director of the St. Tammany Hospital Hospice
Blanche McCloskey and Rock Kendrick
Junior Auxiliary of Slidell hosts Holiday Home Tour
Vicki Gulino and Cindy Walden
Stephanie Miller and JoBeth Kavanaugh
Chad Palen and April Lagasse
The Junior Auxiliary of Slidell showed off holiday finery at its 11th annual Holiday Tour of Homes. Four homes were featured, including the beautifully appointed houses of Linda Murrah, Sylvia and Ronny Reine and a home available for purchase in the Rigolets Estates. Each site served handmade cookies and finger foods while providing entertainment from local musicians. The host home for the event was the stunning abode of Jan and Quentin Stumpf in the Rigolets. Guests arrived at sunset and enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres while admiring the multilevel balconies and terraces overlooking the water. The Junior Auxiliary’s president is Barbara Gravois. Funds generated from the Holiday Tour of Homes contribute to nine community service projects the group coordinates in Slidell. The projects focus on women and children, including “A Day for Girls Health,” “Backpacks4kids,” “Child Welfare Project — Hearts United,” “Groovin’ Snacks, Movin’ Kids,” “Happy Feet,” “Juniors in Service,” “Know Your Child,” “Literary Liaisons” and the annual spelling bee. Last year, Junior Auxiliary of Slidell volunteers worked 1,800 hours and spent more
Scarlett and Ashley Gary with Jessica Stumpf than $25,000 to serve more than 11,000 people in the Slidell area. For more information on the Junior Auxiliary of
Ashley Bickham and Angie Jean
Slidell, contact (985) 265-7111, or visit www.JASlidell.org. Missie Arata Noel is the soci-
Erik Kostelak and Donna Bush
ety and features writer for The St. Tammany Advocate. She can be contacted by email at jrnoel@bellsouth.net.