Corinne Paula Smith Bart died peacefully at home on Monday, January 20, 2025 at the age of 95. She was the eighth child born to the late Philip Ignatius and Inez Haynes Smith on July 19, 1929 in New Orleans, LA. Mrs. Bart was joined in Holy Matrimony to Henry Leonard Bart, Sr. for 65 years and their union was blessed with ten children, Christine, Linda, Bonnie, Henry, Jr., Regina, Michael, Philip, Robert, Carol and Angela. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Bart is also preceded in death by her husband, Henry, Sr.; siblings, Eunice, Celita, Jeanne, Melba, Quinton, Gwendolyn, John and Lynne. In addition to her children, Corinne is also survived by one sister, Robbie; nineteen grand, seventeen great grand and four great great grandchildren, a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. The Great Depression years were challenging for the Smiths of N. Derbigny Street in the 7th Ward. When Corinne lost her mother, she was 3 years old. Her "mothers" were now her two oldest sisters, Celita and Jeanne. From her Papa, Corinne learned the joy of love, hard work and holding the family together. Corinne's Auntie Celita brought the baby, Lynne, to live with her family a few blocks away on N. Prieur Street. Sisters, aunts and cousins passed on the seamstress trade. Working at home and in fashionable shops, Corinne became adept at executing her own designs with or without patterns. She could satisfy the customer's wishes while using her unfailing sense of form to ensure a flattering fit. Corinne carried on the creole cooking tradition faithfully, usually without recipes, in large quantities and from scratch. She was determined to please Henry, who grew up on the other side of Elysian Fields with a doting mother. Picky eater or no, Henry was "the best thing that ever happened to me," Corinne insisted. Beautiful, cheerful, generous, selfless and compassionate, Corinne was a blessing to all who knew her. Relatives and friends; Priest and Parishioners of St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church are invited to attend the funeral. A Mass of Christian burial honoring the life and legacy of the late Corinne Paula Smith Bart will be held at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 5621 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, LA on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 11 am. Interment St. Louis Cemetery #3, 3421 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA. Visitation 9 am with recitation of the Holy Rosary at 10 30 am in the church. A repast will follow at St. Martin's. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in honor of Mrs. Bart to Doctors Without Borders or the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, two of her favorite charities. Please sign online guestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralhome.com. Face mask and social distancing encouraged. Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504) 581-441

Published on January 28, 2025