Helen Rault Burkes' Obituary
Helen Elizabeth (Rault) Burkes, passed away peacefully at her daughter's home on Monday, November 26, 2007 after a brief illness. Beloved wife of Louis G. Burkes for 58 years. Mother of two sons, Robert A. Burkes and Louis E. Burkes, and one daughter, Susan Elizabeth (Burkes) Stoetzel, Mother-in-law of Ratana Burkes and Uwe Stoetzel. Survived by one granddaughter, Wei Burkes, and one grandson, Heinrich W. Stoetzel. Daughter of the late Ignatius Rault and Wilhelmina (Koch) Rault. Also survived by a brother-in-law, Robert Draughn Burkes, and two nieces, Deborah Jane (Burkes) Ward, and Carolyn Ann (Burkes) Root, and many beloved cousins.
A native and life-long resident of New Orleans, she was educated in N.O. Public Schools including Sophie Wright High School. She graduated Newcomb College in 1948, and was a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority. She was employed by Tulane University for thirty years as an archivist in the Special Collections Department of Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Her passion for the creative arts led her often to attend music concerts and festivals, operas, dance performances, and to frequent the museums and galleries of the city. She attended the Louisiana Jazz and Heritage Festival nearly every year since its inception at Congo Square, favoring above all traditional jazz and gospel music. Her enduring love of nature moved her to spend many hours walking in the city's beautiful parks and the area's nature preserves. She enjoyed travel in Europe and throughout North America. She had an abiding love for the city of New Orleans, its people, culture and traditions. She was a faithful member of Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church for many years.
Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a memorial service to be held Thursday, December 6th, 2007 at 1:00pm at Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church, 3900 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, La. Contributions may be made in her memory to Tulane Friends of Music, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, or other New Orleans cultural arts institutions.
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