Rebecca Sherrod

Rebecca L. (Dowd) Sherrod, age 63 of Gretna, Louisiana, died May 13, 2018, at the Ochsner Medical Center in Gretna. A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 16, 2018 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Protivin, with Rev. Kyle Digmann celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery – Reilly Ridge, rural Lawler. Friends may greet the family an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday. Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home in Protivin is entrusted with arrangements. Rebecca was passionate about all aspects of children’s education and deeply cared about childhood Autism. Donations may be made in her name to a charity of your choice. No flowers requested. Rebecca L. (Dowd) Sherrod was born October 31, 1954, in Cedar Rapids, the daughter of Bill (Tiny) and Sara (Maher) Dowd. The family moved Omaha, NE, then to Sioux City, where she graduated in 1972 from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School. She received her formal education at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, and began her Special Education teaching career in Dubuque. After moving to the New Orleans area, she was united in marriage to Thomas Sherrod. To this union, two children were born, Alex and Austin. Rebecca (Becky) had worked in the Jefferson Parish School system for over 30 years. After retirement, she worked as a tour guide at Mardi Gras World, where she was able to meet and educate tourists from around the world about Mardi Gras traditions, and her favorite subject, New Orleans history. She loved her two cats, Bubba and Snow who had roots from the family farmstead near Jerico / Saude. She greatly enjoyed spending summers “at the farm,” and attending many of the annual Hurd family reunions. She loved to travel and especially enjoyed her time in Venice, Italy. She was greatly moved by all the support and assistance she received by family, friends and strangers after her home was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Survivors include her sons, Alex (Mignon) Sherrod, of Savannah, Georgia and Austin (Linh) Sherrod, of Harvey, Louisiana; brother Leo (Bev) Dowd, New Hampton; sister Chris (Marvin) Pettinger, Northglenn, Colorado; nephew Derek Dowd, Lawler, Vaughn Pettinger, Northglenn, CO; nieces Merissa Pettinger, Northglenn, CO and Lindsey Dowd, Lawler; numerous special cousins and cousins-cousins, along with her forever friend Marie O’Donnell, New Orleans, LA. She was preceded in death by her parents and former husband.