Byrde Berenson Haspel, community volunteer

BYRDE BERENSON HASPEL,  a housewife and community volunteer who worked most notably for the boards of Jewish Children’s Regional Service and Touro Infirmary, died peacefully in her sleep at her home on May 27, 2013. She was 96.

A native of Bogalusa, she attended Louisiana State University, where she was a noted beauty. Like the fabled song title, she was selected as “The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi” before matriculating there and later attended the University of Illinois for a short time. Haspel was married for almost a half century to New Orleaniana Joseph Haspel, Jr., who preceded her in death. Following her marriage, she became a resident for seven decades.

Haspel is survived by her daughter, Susan Haspel Lipsey (Richard), of Baton Rouge, and her son Edward Marion Haspel (Beth) of Los Angeles. She is survived by two granddaughters, three grandsons and five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Sara Berenson Stone, and brother, Dr. Gerald  Berenson, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Mrs. Haspel will be today, May 30 at Touro Synagogue Chapel from 10:30 to 11:30 A.M. with the funeral service at 11:30 A.M.  Burial will follow at Hebrew Rest Cemetery.

Donations are suggested to the Jewish Children’s Regional Service, the Ochsner Foundation Hospital Transplant Program in New Orleans, or Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge. Arrangements by Tharp-Sontheimer-Tharp Funeral Home of Metairie.