Cleon Howat Gros

Cleon Howat Gros passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, January 23, 2023 at the age of 97 surrounded by her loving family. She is preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Edwin Louis Gros, Jr., her parents Louis W. Howat, Sr. and Yolande Savini Howat and her grandson Jeffrey Summers. She is also preceded in death by her sisters, Emily Ann Poche and Carmel Loch.
There are many who remain to treasure her memory, including her eight children, Fr. Edwin L. Gros, SJ, Patricia Gros Summers (Dave), Barry Gros (Ronna), Rebecca Gros Bradley (Mark), Randy Gros (Gwen), Leslie Gros Gilbert (Pete), Michael Gros (Sheila), and Rene Gros (Julie). Her 13 grandchildren, Vicky Summers Eschmann (David), Martin Summers, Jr., B.J. Gros (Kristen), Andre Gros, Rachel Gros Moity (Ryan), Randy Gros, Jr. (Brittany), Rebecca Gros Hughes (Mark), Garrett Gros, Gabrielle Gros Odor (Rougie), Gavin Gros, Gaelyn Gros, Amanda Gros and Drew Gros. Her 18 great-grandchildren, Jeffrey and Bradley Eschmann, Christian and Kaley Summers, Lila, Brynn and Bowen Gros, Audrey Gros, Addyson, Brayden and Easton Moity, Rehmy and Rowan Gros, Henry and Porter Hughes, Elena Odor, Dallas Loupe and Aryn Powell.
Cleon is also survived by her siblings, Janet Raymond, Gerald Howat (Linda), Louis Howat, Jr. (Lucille) and Yolande Howat. She is also remembered with affection by countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The Gros family would like to extend a special thanks to her caregivers, Ericka Green and Maria Landreneau.
Cleon was born on March 18, 1925 in New Orleans. She was the oldest of seven children and grew up in the Gentilly area, where she attended elementary school at St. Leo the Great Catholic School and high school at Holy Angels Catholic School. She was extremely intelligent, which awarded her the honor of graduating valedictorian from both schools. She furthered her education at Hale Secretarial School. She was a homemaker while raising her eight children and then spent 20 years as an Administrative Assistant for the Biological Sciences Department at Loyola University, where she retired. Cleon was affiliated with many organizations, which included St. Rita’s Mothers’ Club, Jesuit Seminary Guild, St. Rita Homemakers and St. Rita Bereavement Committee.
She most enjoyed gardening around her home in Harahan and her summer home in Bay St. Louis (better known as “The Camp”). She recently asked for a chain saw for Christmas, never wanting to give up on yard work. She always could find something that needed TLC in the yard. She loved her LSU Tigers and New Orleans Saints. She also never missed a tennis match on T.V. She started each morning with a cup of coffee while she read the newspaper cover to cover, making sure she was aware of everything going on in the world.
Cleon treasured her family and faith. She was a model mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. Her unconditional love, support, advice, words of wisdom and incredible memory of everything is a great loss to us all. She has touched so many lives in her 97 years and will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a funeral mass at St. Rita Catholic Church, 7100 Jefferson Highway, Harahan, LA, at 12 noon on Friday, January 27, 2023. Visitation will begin at 10:00 am. The Interment in Metairie Cemetery – All Saints Mausoleum will follow the mass. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Rita Catholic School in Harahan, LA. Greenwood Funeral Home in New Orleans are in charge of arrangements. To view and sign the family guest book, please visit www.greenwoodfh.com

 

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