Johanna "Claire" Stiegman Gonsoulin Sciambra's Obituary
Johanna “Claire” Stiegman Gonsoulin Sciambra, a resident of Mandeville, and former resident of Arabi, passed away peacefully at home on October 29, 2018 at the age of 90.
Claire grew up in New Orleans and graduated from St. Joseph Academy High School. Many of her early years were difficult and provided unexpected but important lessons she would remember throughout her life. She spoke often about the quarters that her grandfather gave her with instructions to purchase fabric to make her own clothing. In the years to come, mastery of this skill would prove invaluable to the hundreds of customers who returned to her year after year to sew for them, making prom dresses, fair costumes, cheerleader uniforms, pageant gowns, school uniforms, and several Mardi Gras krewe costumes. However, she truly excelled in the crafting of entire wedding parties from mother of the bride to the flower girl and everything in between, rarely using a pattern.
Other accomplishments included amazing cooking skills, playing the piano, gardening, volunteering in the St. Bernard Parish Extension Service and the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. In 1968 she was hired to teach tennis when the St. Bernard Parish Athletic Association introduced a new program as part of its summer camp.
In July of 1986, she married Bernard Sciambra, whose Italian cooking skills were quickly shared in their Arabi kitchen. Sunday dinners became epic and you were lucky to fetch a cherished seat at her table. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina brought her to Mandeville where she remained until her death. Claire was a member of the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Emero Sylvester Stiegman and Monique Laurent Stiegman and siblings Emero Stiegman, Camille St. Amant and Karl Stiegman and by her beloved husband of nine years, Bernard Sciambra.
Former wife of the late Armel Gonsoulin, Jr. and loving mother of Janice Binnings (Bill), Jeannette Fischer (Cary), A.J. Gonsoulin, III (Michelle), Peggy Vallejo Hemelt (Leo) and Leslie Harrington (Patrick). She is also survived by 16 adoring grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and four great great-grandchildren.
The family wishes to thank Heart of Hospice for their support and Claire’s many personal care attendants for their genuine and compassionate care.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend visitation at E.J. Fielding Funeral Home at 2260 W. 21st Avenue, Covington on Friday, November 2 between 5:00PM and 8:00PM. Saturday, November 3rd visitation will begin at 9:00AM and 11:00AM.
A Funeral Mass will commence at 11:15AM.
Burial will take place St. Joseph Abbey Cemetery in Covington.
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