Mary Ethel Booker Siefken
April 27, 1937 ~ July 20, 2018 (age 81) 81 Years Old
Tribute
MARY ETHEL BOOKER SIEFKEN
Serviam: I will serve. That is the motto of Ursuline Academy and was the guiding principle of Mary Ethel Booker Clancy Siefken of New Orleans, who died peacefully on July 20, 2018, due to complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Mary Ethel was born on April 27, 1937, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Harry Hamilton Booker and Margaret Donohue Booker. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Gerald Siefken; her seven children, Joseph (Karen) Clancy, Daniel (Suzanne) Clancy, Mary (David) Stieffel, Paul (Anna) Siefken, Robert Siefken, Carolyn (Thom) Wiley and Barbara Siefken; her eight grandchildren Samantha Stieffel (Jagger) Scibilia, Savannah Clancy, Dylan Clancy, Joseph Clancy, Ella Siefken, Ruby Siefken, Margaret Wiley and Rose Wiley; and four of her beloved siblings, Edward (Luce) Booker, Ann (George) Loper, Hoy Booker and Margaret Booker. She was preceded in death by her brother John Patrick (Judy) Booker.
As the eldest in her family, Mary Ethel was a natural born leader, organizer, cheerleader, and caregiver. When her family moved to New Orleans in 1951, she was enrolled at Ursuline Academy, where she quickly made life-long friends and gained the respect of all her peers, who elected her to serve as their freshman class president and, later, as their student body president. She graduated from UA in 1955 as salutatorian. Later, in 1986, she was among the first UA graduates to be recognized as a Distinguished Alumnae.
Mary Ethel went on to attend Maryville College in St. Louis, Missouri, where she studied political science and continued in leadership roles at school and in the community. In particular, her participation in the Young Christian Students led her to a deep commitment to a life of working for Christian social justice. As John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address, “here on earth, God’s work must truly be our own.” Mary Ethel worked on his 1960 Presidential campaign in Missouri, and it was one of the great honors of her life when she met him and he thanked her for her campaign work.
During her senior year at Maryville, Mary Ethel met a young medical student while at a dance. Her wit, wisdom, and beauty charmed him, while her practical and headstrong resolve tested him. He courted her for two years, and though his medical school education often kept them at a distance, their love blossomed. Mary Ethel married Dr. Joseph Ignatius Clancy in 1961, and their first son, Joseph Hamilton, was born the following year. Tragically, Dr. Clancy died in a solo plane crash in June 1963, when Mary Ethel was pregnant with their second son, Daniel.
Though devastated by her loss, Mary Ethel’s faith and the love of her family strengthened her. She returned to New Orleans, where she dedicated her life’s work to public service, civic engagement, and social justice, and where, as fate and faith would have it, she found the lasting love of her life. In 1965, while a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary Ethel noticed a handsome reader and song-leader at church. Through a bit of sleuthing with her mother, she learned he was single! Better still, he shared her commitment to civil rights and social justice! Fittingly, their first (not all-together chance) meeting was at a seminar on “How to Implement the 1964 Civil Rights Act,” soon followed by a first date to the Urban League banquet. Mary Ethel was smitten with this good-looking, conscientious, civic-minded Catholic from Colorado, and, though it took a bit of scheming and party-planning to catch his interest, Mary Ethel soon won the heart of Gerald “Jerry” Edward Siefken. They were married on November 25, 1965. Jerry officially adopted Mary Ethel’s two young sons, Joe and Dan, who retained the surname Clancy. Over the next 14 years, Mary Ethel and Jerry had five more children together—Mary, Paul, Bob, Carolyn, and Barbara. In nearly 53 years of marriage, Mary Ethel and Jerry shared joyous adventures, filled with laughter and song, and, though life presented challenges, they remained devoted to each other and their children.
While growing and nurturing her family, Mary Ethel also worked tirelessly in her community, particularly in political campaigns and civic projects. She was a lifelong, liberal Democrat, working diligently behind the scenes for leaders who shared her commitment to progressive public service. Notably, she worked on every Democratic presidential campaign from 1960 to 2008; managed the successful state legislative campaign for her brother, Ed Booker, in 1967 and 1971; served as Office Manager for Moon Landrieu’s mayoral campaign in 1969; and served as Operations Manager for Ernest “Dutch” Morial’s mayoral campaign in 1977. Additionally, Mary Ethel served as the voter service chairperson for the League of Women Voters, the President of the Independent Women’s Organization, and was a fellow at Loyola University’s Institute of Politics. She later brought her civic interests, political connections, and creative talents to television, producing public affairs talk shows and documentaries for WLAE and Cox Cable. Mary Ethel also marshalled the services of her seven children and their friends in countless Democratic Party campaigns.
Guided by her devotion to God and the Catholic Church, Mary Ethel answered the call to serve in countless roles in her faith community. As a parishioner of St. Pius X and later St. Gabriel the Archangel, she taught preschool of religion, served as a Eucharistic Minister to the sick, and always topped the list for any volunteer needs. She also served as program chair of the Theresians women’s ministry organization, volunteered with Bread for the World through Loyola University for many years, once chairing their Walk for the Hungry, and was awarded the Lindy Boggs Hunger Awareness Award in 2003. Her dedication to the church and to the Ursuline Sisters converged and became literary when Mary Ethel edited the book A Century of Pioneering: A History of the Ursuline Nuns in New Orleans (1727-1827), published by the Ursuline Sisters of New Orleans in 1993.
Throughout her life, Mary Ethel often declined recognition for her innumerable accomplishments, though she proudly and loudly cheered those of her children and loved ones. She was humble, generous, and gracious, but also passionate, determined, and fierce. She will be remembered lovingly as a matriarch, a leader, an activist, a servant, and an inspiration.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, July 27th, at 11:00a.m., preceded by visitation from 9:00 to 11:00a.m., at the National Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, 2701 State Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118. Following the service, friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Ursuline Academy.
In lieu of flowers, Mary Ethel would ask for three things: love your family with all your heart, work and pray for those less fortunate … and vote Democrat!
ARRANGEMENTS BY JACOB SCHOEN & SON FUNERAL HOME 3827 Canal Street.
Serviam: I will serve. That is the motto of Ursuline Academy and was the guiding principle of Mary Ethel Booker Clancy Siefken of New Orleans, who died peacefully on July 20, 2018, due to complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.
Mary Ethel was born on April 27, 1937, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Harry Hamilton Booker and Margaret Donohue Booker. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Gerald Siefken; her seven children, Joseph (Karen) Clancy, Daniel (Suzanne) Clancy, Mary (David) Stieffel, Paul (Anna) Siefken, Robert Siefken, Carolyn (Thom) Wiley and Barbara Siefken; her eight grandchildren Samantha Stieffel (Jagger) Scibilia, Savannah Clancy, Dylan Clancy, Joseph Clancy, Ella Siefken, Ruby Siefken, Margaret Wiley and Rose Wiley; and four of her beloved siblings, Edward (Luce) Booker, Ann (George) Loper, Hoy Booker and Margaret Booker. She was preceded in death by her brother John Patrick (Judy) Booker.
As the eldest in her family, Mary Ethel was a natural born leader, organizer, cheerleader, and caregiver. When her family moved to New Orleans in 1951, she was enrolled at Ursuline Academy, where she quickly made life-long friends and gained the respect of all her peers, who elected her to serve as their freshman class president and, later, as their student body president. She graduated from UA in 1955 as salutatorian. Later, in 1986, she was among the first UA graduates to be recognized as a Distinguished Alumnae.
Mary Ethel went on to attend Maryville College in St. Louis, Missouri, where she studied political science and continued in leadership roles at school and in the community. In particular, her participation in the Young Christian Students led her to a deep commitment to a life of working for Christian social justice. As John F. Kennedy said in his inaugural address, “here on earth, God’s work must truly be our own.” Mary Ethel worked on his 1960 Presidential campaign in Missouri, and it was one of the great honors of her life when she met him and he thanked her for her campaign work.
During her senior year at Maryville, Mary Ethel met a young medical student while at a dance. Her wit, wisdom, and beauty charmed him, while her practical and headstrong resolve tested him. He courted her for two years, and though his medical school education often kept them at a distance, their love blossomed. Mary Ethel married Dr. Joseph Ignatius Clancy in 1961, and their first son, Joseph Hamilton, was born the following year. Tragically, Dr. Clancy died in a solo plane crash in June 1963, when Mary Ethel was pregnant with their second son, Daniel.
Though devastated by her loss, Mary Ethel’s faith and the love of her family strengthened her. She returned to New Orleans, where she dedicated her life’s work to public service, civic engagement, and social justice, and where, as fate and faith would have it, she found the lasting love of her life. In 1965, while a parishioner of Our Lady of Lourdes, Mary Ethel noticed a handsome reader and song-leader at church. Through a bit of sleuthing with her mother, she learned he was single! Better still, he shared her commitment to civil rights and social justice! Fittingly, their first (not all-together chance) meeting was at a seminar on “How to Implement the 1964 Civil Rights Act,” soon followed by a first date to the Urban League banquet. Mary Ethel was smitten with this good-looking, conscientious, civic-minded Catholic from Colorado, and, though it took a bit of scheming and party-planning to catch his interest, Mary Ethel soon won the heart of Gerald “Jerry” Edward Siefken. They were married on November 25, 1965. Jerry officially adopted Mary Ethel’s two young sons, Joe and Dan, who retained the surname Clancy. Over the next 14 years, Mary Ethel and Jerry had five more children together—Mary, Paul, Bob, Carolyn, and Barbara. In nearly 53 years of marriage, Mary Ethel and Jerry shared joyous adventures, filled with laughter and song, and, though life presented challenges, they remained devoted to each other and their children.
While growing and nurturing her family, Mary Ethel also worked tirelessly in her community, particularly in political campaigns and civic projects. She was a lifelong, liberal Democrat, working diligently behind the scenes for leaders who shared her commitment to progressive public service. Notably, she worked on every Democratic presidential campaign from 1960 to 2008; managed the successful state legislative campaign for her brother, Ed Booker, in 1967 and 1971; served as Office Manager for Moon Landrieu’s mayoral campaign in 1969; and served as Operations Manager for Ernest “Dutch” Morial’s mayoral campaign in 1977. Additionally, Mary Ethel served as the voter service chairperson for the League of Women Voters, the President of the Independent Women’s Organization, and was a fellow at Loyola University’s Institute of Politics. She later brought her civic interests, political connections, and creative talents to television, producing public affairs talk shows and documentaries for WLAE and Cox Cable. Mary Ethel also marshalled the services of her seven children and their friends in countless Democratic Party campaigns.
Guided by her devotion to God and the Catholic Church, Mary Ethel answered the call to serve in countless roles in her faith community. As a parishioner of St. Pius X and later St. Gabriel the Archangel, she taught preschool of religion, served as a Eucharistic Minister to the sick, and always topped the list for any volunteer needs. She also served as program chair of the Theresians women’s ministry organization, volunteered with Bread for the World through Loyola University for many years, once chairing their Walk for the Hungry, and was awarded the Lindy Boggs Hunger Awareness Award in 2003. Her dedication to the church and to the Ursuline Sisters converged and became literary when Mary Ethel edited the book A Century of Pioneering: A History of the Ursuline Nuns in New Orleans (1727-1827), published by the Ursuline Sisters of New Orleans in 1993.
Throughout her life, Mary Ethel often declined recognition for her innumerable accomplishments, though she proudly and loudly cheered those of her children and loved ones. She was humble, generous, and gracious, but also passionate, determined, and fierce. She will be remembered lovingly as a matriarch, a leader, an activist, a servant, and an inspiration.
A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, July 27th, at 11:00a.m., preceded by visitation from 9:00 to 11:00a.m., at the National Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, 2701 State Street, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118. Following the service, friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Ursuline Academy.
In lieu of flowers, Mary Ethel would ask for three things: love your family with all your heart, work and pray for those less fortunate … and vote Democrat!
ARRANGEMENTS BY JACOB SCHOEN & SON FUNERAL HOME 3827 Canal Street.
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