GLADYS GUARISCO Obituary: Lafourche Parish, La. Submitted by: Louis Lavedan Source: Daily Comet, Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish, La. 19 Nov 2005 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** NOTES: 1. The date preceding the obituary is the date of posting on the WWW, not the date of death. ================================ November 11. 2005 12:03PM Gladys Guarisco Gladys Mire Guarisco, an artist and longtime volunteer for the disabled, died Thursday, Nov. 10, at her home in Thibodaux, after battling cancer for two years. She was 72. Guarisco died peacefully in the early hours Thursday with her husband of 51 years, Blaise Guarisco, son Bill Guarisco and daughter Christine von Braun by her son. Visitation will be 9 to 11 a.m. Monday at St. John Catholic Church in Thibodaux. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday at the church. Guarisco was known locally as an accomplished water colorist. Her gentle paintings of indigenous Louisiana blossoms and country scenes still hang in homes and offices around the United States and in Europe. She was also an avid gardening enthusiast who drew inspiration from the flowers and plants in her own garden. She studied art under the late Lula Ameen, earning a bachelor of fine arts degree from Nicholls State University in 1986, graduating cum laude. For several years she taught water color painting and drawing. Guarisco was for several years an active volunteer with the Peltier-Lawless Developmental Center, sharing her time with developmentally disabled children and adults. She was recognized numerous times for her volunteer work, most notably in 1996 when she was honored by the American Association on Mental Retardation as its Humanitarian of the Year for the region, which covers six states. She was a native of Morgan City and a resident of Thibodaux since 1979. She is survived by her husband, Blaise "Bill" Guarisco; a daughter, Christine von Braun of Andover, Mass.; sons David Paul Guarisco of Orlando, Fla., William John Guarisco of Thibodaux and Thomas Marshall Guarisco of Baton Rouge; grandchildren David Paul Guarisco Jr. of Orlando, Fla., Kathleen Renee' Guarisco and Parker Rose Guarisco of Baton Rouge and Katie Elizabeth and Christoph Maximilian von Braun of Andover, Mass.; sisters Carmen Guarisco of Morgan City, Doris Guzzino of Austin, Texas, Merle Groce of Houston, Texas, Nina Hidalgo of Bastrop, Texas and Elaine Hilliard of Innis, Texas; and brothers Gerald Mire of Hawthorne, Calif., and Donald Mire of Amelia. She was preceded in death by her youngest son, Timothy James Guarisco; parents Albert and Angeline Mire; a sister, Carolyn Goulas; and a brother, Neil Mire. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the St. Anne's Indian Mission- Klagetoh, c/o Brother John Hotstream, Unit 50, HC 58 Box 90, Ganada, AZ, 86505.