Birth date: Apr 25, 1949 Death date: Apr 9, 2019
Willamena Adams Paretti passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2019 in New Orleans, LA. She was born on April 25, 1949 in Pineville, LA to the late John Lloyd Adams and Victorine Cactus Brossette Adams. Willie was the beloved wife of t Read Obituary
I first met Willie when we moved to the Mandeville area when I was 33 and Willie was 32. Mandeville was just starting to take off. At that time Mandeville only had a small, L shaped shopping center and a Mc Donalds. It was a tighter community back then and more people knew one another.
I met Willie at an elementary PTA meeting. I thought we immediately became "fast friends". Then, I realized that Willie was fast friends with everyone she met. She made everyone feel special with her charming, adorable and loving manner. Everyone wanted to get to know Willie better, including me.
Our friendship did grow through volunteering at the school, as Stacey was 1 year older than Wendy, my oldest, and Craig and Christina, my middle daughter, were the same age. Willie's first and foremost responsibility was to her children. At the beginning of one elementary school year, I remember going to the principal's office to complain about the growing pains of the school and how it was affecting some of the students including Christina. Willie bounced into the office to join our conversation with the same complaints affecting Craig. We both were tigers for our children and the very next day, our concerns for Craig and Christina were taken care of. I admired Willie's firmness when it came to getting the best for her children.
Willie joined the ever growing Petroleum Wives Club, as an associate member, and joined the committee which involved the charity style show. This show was so much fun as we loved dressing to the nines in those days. Doing it for a worthy cause was even better. We all loved working with Willie as her spirit was amazing! She loved all things charity!
Then in highschool, Willie started a danceteam called the Starlettes. Wendy and Christina loved this team and Willie. This lady was great at everything she did! Willie was gracious, kind and an inspiration for her danceteam girls.
Willie asked me to help with the dancers performing at the Superbowl half time show. Willie and I were running over the Superdome field and I had Kimberly, my youngest (then 5), in tow. Some official looking man came over and asked, " what is this child doing on the field?". Willie said," leave my baby alone! She is here with me! " The man said," yes mam" and that was that! When Willie spoke, people listened! I chuckled.
Willie was an advocate, not just for her friend's children, but for all children.
My feelings were seldom hurt, but one day they were. I went to Willie's home for some comforting words. Willie and I talked for an hour and she offered food and her time for comfort. It worked and I left feeling great. Willie always had time for a friend.
Willie loved St. Tammany Parish and contributed to it's growth with her organizational skills and participation. Somehow, she found the time to devote herself to her children and also do the needed volunteer work that only Willie could accomplish!
I remarried and moved away but I kept up with Willie through Stacey's post and her's on Facebook. I remember thinking how tragic it was for their family when Craig, Willie's husband, left this world too soon. I had the same feeling reading about Willie's passing. I bet she is still looking for work to done in Heaven. Ha
Knowing Willie, she wants Craig and Stacey to be as happy as possible, even with her leaving. That would be Willie. It was such a joy to have shared, even a little time, with this special friend. RIP Willie. We all love you.
Willie has been a fixture in the community as long as we can remember, always caring for her community. She will be missed. God Bless her and the family she leaves behind.
Al and Diane Kramer
St. Tammany has lost another icon and my family and I have lost a very dear friend in the passing of Willie. Our thoughts and prayers are with Stacy and Craig, her grandchildren, and Don. Willie was a true friend, always wanting to help any good cause and she spent her life helping many, many causes. The word "No" was never in her vocabulary. She will be missed greatly by all of us who knew and loved her. She was truly a very special lady!
Bill Dobson and Family
Here was a Willie! When comes such another? Willie was one of a kind. How could God fill one person with such strength, dignity, toughness, generosity, joy of life, grace, and love? I’ll cherish happy memories of Willie, and I challenge us all to live up to the example she set – work hard, give to others, and love life! To Don and her entire family, I offer my heartfelt condolences and my prayers.
Jacques Guillot
Willie was a lovely lady. She never knew a stranger, and treated everyone she knew as a much missed friend whenever you saw her. She respected those she worked with, and that respect translated into a genuine courtesy and kindness. She will be missed by all who knew her. God Bless and comfort her family.
Sincerely,
Edward L Cain
Commercial Painting Company, retired
