Alice O'Keefe Sebastian

Alice Mary O’Keefe Sebastian died peacefully on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 surrounded by family at her home in Dallas, Texas. She was 89. She was born on April 7, 1922 to Jeremiah Joseph “Ben” O’Keefe and Teresa “Tess” Slattery O’Keefe of Biloxi, MS. A devout Catholic, she was a loving wife and mother of 10 children. She was the beloved wife of the late Leo J. Sebastian, her husband of 52 years, who predeceased her in 1995. She is also predeceased by two brothers, Dr. John O’Keefe and Ben O’Keefe of Biloxi. She is survived by her children, Cecilia “Cookie” A. Smith (Jerry), Houston, TX; Kathleen A. Sebastian, New Orleans, LA; John P. Sebastian (Xenia), Dallas, TX; Dr. Irene M. Sebastian, New Orleans, LA; Teresa D. Brislin (Mark), Birmingham, AL; Robert L. Sebastian (Denise), New Orleans, LA; Leo B. Sebastian, Irving, TX; Steven N. Sebastian (Risa) Pensacola, FL; Elizabeth R. Condyles (Nick), Richmond, VA; and Jeri A. Sebastian (Jay Markwalder), New Hope, PA. She is also survived by her loving brother, Jeremiah “Jerry” O’Keefe (Martha) Biloxi, MS, and 18 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren to whom she was known as “Aldie.” She graduated from Ocean Springs High School in 1939 where she was Salutatorian of her graduating class. She attended Newcomb College and later graduated from Soulé Business College in New Orleans. She returned to Biloxi and worked as a secretary at Keesler AFB, where she met and married her husband, Leo, in 1943. They lived in Shreveport, LA from 1948 until 1996 where she was active in many church and community activities, including the RCIA, St. John Berchmans’ church circle, and study club. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Slattery Company. She loved to entertain with family and friends and could always be counted on to bake her famous pies for the school bazaars. She volunteered to be a class mother for one grade each year until all 10 children graduated from St John’s Grade School. She also made heirloom baptismal gowns and first communion dresses for needy children. After raising her children, she earned a BS in Nursing from Northwestern State University of Louisiana and an MS in Psychology. She worked as a hospital nurse and psychiatric nurse, and later as Head Nurse for the Caddo Parish School Board until her retirement. She returned to Biloxi MS in 1996, where she lived until Hurricane Katrina, then moved to Dallas, TX where she was active in her retirement community. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Funeral Mass at the Cathedral of the Nativity, 870 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS, at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 26, 2011. Internment in Southern Memorial Park, 2076 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS. A visitation will be held at the Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home at 911 Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, November 25, 2011. View and sign the register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com