Helen Lopez Languirand

Helen Abbey Lopez Languirand departed this life peacefully and entered Heaven’s gates on Christmas Eve of 2022 in Gulfport after a period of illness.

Ms. Languirand was born January 9, 1953 to John (known as Jack) and Juanita Lopez in New Orleans.  Her family had strong ties to Biloxi, as her Lopez forebears had pioneered the seafood industry there.  While she was still a child, her family moved permanently to Biloxi in the aftermath of Hurricane Betsy, and there she grew up and resided for most of her life.  She graduated from Biloxi High School, and afterwards worked for several years at the Sun Herald and then as a graphic artist.  She later established Pet Sitter Plus Services, the first pet sitting business on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, which she owned and operated successfully for fifteen years.  A talented artist, she was adept with watercolor. In retirement, Ms. Languirand volunteered with Nativity BVM as a Eucharistic minister, and she also devoted her time to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.  She loved yoga, her pets, and her historic Biloxi residence.  She cherished her Catholic faith.  Helen was an honest, trustworthy, strong, and resilient woman, and these qualities enabled her to overcome the obstacles that arose in her life.

Ms. Languirand was preceded in death by her mother, Juanita Eckles Lopez; father, John Beverly Lopez; sisters, Beverly Lopez and Clara D’Aquilla; and her niece, Claire Campbell. 

Remaining here to remember her are her brother, John Magruder (Beth) Lopez of New Orleans; nieces, Carroll Campbell and Abbey D’Aquilla of Biloxi; her nephews, Shawn Lazaro (Rachel Mayeaux) Lopez and John Michael Lopez of New Orleans; dear friends, Linda McGough of New Orleans; Eileen Loffrado of Santa Rosa, CA; Mike and Jane Strojny of Biloxi; Will Richard of Biloxi; and her companions in yoga at River Rock Yoga in Ocean Springs, especially her teacher there, Hope Landis.

The family particularly wishes to thank Mr. George Emile for his kind and professional assistance with Ms. Languirand’s arrangements.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at Nativity Cathedral in Biloxi. Friends may visit one hour prior. Interment in the Biloxi City Cemetery has been entrusted to the caring staff at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home.