Fay Parnes dies on New Year’s Day

FAY ZUCKERMAN PARNES, a New Orleans native and former jeweler and Jewish educator, died on New Year’s Day, January 1, 2021. She was 83. 

Parnes maintained a jewelry business within the J. Herman & Son store owned by her uncle. She was also the principal for the Beth Israel Sunday School and  a nursery school teacher for Communal Hebrew School.

Parnes was among the first female graduates from Fortier High School, which had previously been an all-male facility. She worked as an executive assistant at Encyclopedia Britanica.

Predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Stanley Parnes, she is survived by her children Janet Markowitz and Mitchell Parnes (Mindy); her sisters Esther Shaiman and Karen Soll (Dr. Edward); her sister-in-law Sandy Parnes and eight grandchildren.

A graveside service limited to immediate family was held on Monday, January 4, at 1:00 p.m.