Leila Grandstaff's Obituary
Leila Ortiz Grandstaff passed on April 5, 2014, at the Heart Hospital of Lafayette Louisiana surrounded by family and friends.
Leila was born in Puerto Rico in 1948 and moved to the US with her family as a child in 1953. Her father was a Master Sergeant in the Military.
She attended high school in Washington State, was married to Micheal R. Slopak and had one son named Christopher. She later divorced and moved to Louisiana.
She married Danny M. Grandstaff and had one son named Harley, she was widowed 2 years later.
She worked as a cosmetologist and attended college at Northwestern. She later returned to school in New Orleans as a single parent of two and earned her masters from Tulane University graduating top in her class. No one loved New Orleans more than Leila.
Leila was a dedicated Child Welfare Supervisor (MSW, GSW) for over twenty years, employed by the Children and Family Services of Louisiana. She was highly respected in the region and worked until her last moments to be the voice of the mistreated child. She was also a representative in court for children's rights.
When disaster struck, she was there and volunteered her translation services in the New Orleans Super-dome during the passing of Hurricane Katrina.
Leila worked diligently each year for donations to host a Christmas party for the children in foster care. This was one of her passions, to bring a smile and instill hope to these misplaced souls.
She helped to customize and personalize the "Life Book" for children in foster care. The Life Book is a detailed scrapbook for each child who comes through the system including pictures and details of the child's life for reflection in future years by parents and children. Before the Life Book, many of these misplaced children grew up without any details of their younger years. Thousands of children will thank Leila and her staff for the records they kept later in life.
She accomplished so much in her lifetime. Although dominate and confrontational, her unwavering integrity spoke volumes to all who came in contact with her. You may not have agreed with her position, but you knew exactly where she stood on the issue at hand, no side agendas.
She will be missed as a mother, friend and grandmother.
She left behind two sons, Christopher L. Slopak and wife Heather &Harley D. Grandstaff and wife Sherrie;3 sisters,
Nilsa M. Ortiz, Vilma A. Mobley and husband Tom & Cookie Ortiz-Bacchas and husband Jim; one brother Rafael O. Clark; Nieces, Yvette Archuleta Tudury and husband Scott & Jolie R. Dunn; Nephews, Joey G. Tilton and wife Stephanie, Gabriel Clark, Isaac Clark & Dominic Clark; Great niece, Jazmon Cason; Great nephew, Joel McGinnis and Grandchildren, Harley Grandstaff Jr., Justin R. Grandstaff and Hannah L. Slopak.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Julio and Pilar Ortiz, husband Danny Grandstaff.
The visitation will be at Labby Memorial Funeral Home 601 S. 4th Street, Leesville, LA on April 11, 2014, from 5-9pm with graveside services to be held Saturday April 12, 2014, at 10am at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Leesville, LA.
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