Marilyn P. Shepard

Marilyn Plaeger Shepard, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt, passed away on Monday, April 21, 2025, at 88 years old. She was the proud matriarch of her family and a devout servant of her Catholic Community. While living in Chalmette, she was a charter member of St. Mark Catholic Church, a member of the St. Mark Altar Society, the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary 5747, AARP #4420, and TOPS Chapter 36. After moving to Baton Rouge in 2005, she was a member of Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, serving as an Eucharistic Minister, NARF 1398, and TOPS Chapter 0312.

Marilyn was a 1954 graduate of the Academy of the Holy Angels in New Orleans. She had a talent for numbers and spent many years working in Bookkeeping for several businesses in the St. Bernard Parish and New Orleans area. Her greatest joys were her family. She spent 62 years of marriage and adventures living life to its fullest with her beloved Charlie. Without a doubt, a loving smile would come upon her face when any of her grandchildren or great grandchildren walked into the room.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles L. Shepard; her parents, George and Thelma Plaeger, Sr.; her brothers, George Plaeger, Jr. (Shirley) and Harold Plaeger (Laverne); and her sister Gloria Brady (Tom).

She is survived by 2 daughters, Suzanne Ruiz (Earl) and Yvette Caillouet (Milton); her grandchildren, Stephen Serio (Brittani), Matthew Serio (Daphne), Corey Caillouet (Gil), Sean Caillouet, Scott (Rachel), Chad (Amber), and Quinn (Katherine) Ruiz; her great grandchildren, Jathan, Ainsley, Dawson, Ethan, Olivia, Robert, Sebastain, Oliver, Rosemary, Elizabeth, Stella, and Lincoln and many cherished nieces and nephews.

Visitation and a Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, April 25 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Baton Rouge. Visitation will begin at 9 AM with Rosary recitation at 10:00, and Mass at 10:30 AM. A reception will follow at St. Patrick Family Center. Burial will take place at St. Bernard Memorial Gardens in Chalmette at 2:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to The Manning Family Children’s Hospital of New Orleans or St. Vincent DePaul of Baton Rouge.