Mickey Easterling planned her own memorial service ahead of time

Apr 28, 2014 09:51 GMT  ·  By

Mickey Easterling, a New Orleans socialite, philanthropist and activist known for her lavish lifestyle, died last Monday at her Lakefront home and held her last expensive cocktail party at her own funeral.

After a life full of extravagance, Easterling passed away at the age of 83 and wanted to leave this world in a classy manner – by throwing a last splashy party.

More than a thousand mourners arrived at the Saenger Theater last Tuesday to pay their respects and say the final farewells to the late socialite, who was dressed to the nines and casually seated on an iron bench.

According to Daily Mail, the New Orleans party diva attended her own memorial service with a glass of champagne in one hand and a cigarette in the other, a festive hat on her head, and a flamboyant feather boa on her shoulders.

As it turns out, Mickey didn't want all the doom and gloom of a regular funeral, so she planned her own memorial service ahead of time. The lobby of the Saenger Theater was decorated to look like Easterling's own backyard, which witnessed numerous parties and functions, while attendees were served foods and drinks Mickey liked, including fried eggplant and expensive champagne.

“She was one of a kind, she had the best parties of anybody and she was always good for a laugh but also for gems of wisdom if you needed advice about something,” said Kenneth Holditch, a friend of Easterling's.

Easterlings, born Marycathyren Gambino, was also known for her civic, cultural and political activism, and for her philanthropic acts. During her life, she hosted many charity fundraisers at her home and helped a lot of people. She acted as chairperson for the New Orleans Easter Seals Society and was active in several other charities that assist sick or handicapped children.

“She touched so many different people. She made such a contribution in our city, to arts and the community,” said Sammy Steele, who did Mickey’s hair and make-up for the funeral.

Besides her friends, important guests attended her events, such as singers Paul Simon and Robert Goulet, actor Larry Hagman, and various political figures like former Governor Edwin Edwards and General Wesley Clark.

Although outsiders might see the funeral as a tad crazy and eccentric, family and friends considered the bash the most suitable way to say goodbye to Mickey.

“She loved the limelight. She loved the attention. She was flamboyant,” her daughter Nanci Myke Easterling said. “It’s a really nice way to say, ‘The party’s over.’”