Floral Trail
Isabella Grace St. Philip radiated queenly joy in her photo on the cover of the event’s program. She radiated even greater happiness during the first hours of her reign (which will last several months) as Queen of the 2024-2025 Greater New Orleans Floral Trail. She is the daughter of Faith Beaudoin and Vincent St. Philip, who will serve as ceremonial escorts, and the granddaughter of Patricia Beaudoin and Owen Mohr. As the 87th Queen of the Floral Trail, she will travel throughout Louisiana and participate in the Mardi Gras Ball in Washington, D.C., hosted by the Mystic Krewe of Louisianans, Inc., during the 2025 Carnival season.
Queen Isabella’s coronation took place in Jackson Square, with Jefferson Parish Councilwoman Alita Bohannan officiating, followed by a horse-drawn carriage procession through the French Quarter and a formal ceremony at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel.
Her Majesty’s maids of honor and their parents are Miss Sophia Margaret Dusang, Mr. and Mrs. Chad Paul Dusang, Miss Ainsley Claire Lyles, Dr. and Mrs. A.C. Lyles III, Miss Kaylin Marie Steltz, and Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Michael Steltz. Her five daughters are Miss Cecily Elizabeth Kuper, Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Michael Kuper, Miss Ella Claire Langrua, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Christopher Langrua, Miss Avery Caitlin Liles, Dr. and Mrs. Lyles III, Miss Ansley Madeleine Schmidt, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Robert Schmidt, Miss Emery Lynn Tantillo, and Mr. and Mrs. Jed Alan Tantillo. Elizabeth Abigail Childress and Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Penn Childress. Raisa Maria De Matteo, Mr. Remi Michael De Matteo, and Ms. Alona Olegavna Koval. Audrey Grace Isham and Asa Clayton Isham; Harper Lynn Isham and Mrs. Isham; Ira Marie Mugivan Lermi and Bilor Lermi; Frankie Rose Ochsner, Mr. Alan Avery Ochsner, Mrs. Gary Lee Mosser; Mia Kate Thomas and Donnie Albright Thomas. Court members were dressed in antebellum dress.
The funeral procession included flower girl Brynn Ruth Matlana, Dr. and Mrs. Mark Ryan Matlana, Katherine Judith Valenza, King and Mrs. John Vincent Valenza III, and Royal Guardsman Bennett Clarence Childress and his wife.
Last year’s crowned queen was Allison Mary Hedrick, whose parents were Brian Hedrick and Tracy Roddy Sr. She was joined by festival queens Lauren Ansley Van Marem, Gweneth Alaina Dorman, Lauren Marie Lacombe, Meredith Ellen Lott, Hilary Ellis Good and Katherine Elizabeth Blondeau. They were introduced by host Matthew J. Hedrick III. Carnival performed the national anthem under the direction of BJ Perez III.
The ceremony continued with the introduction of Miss Hedrick, the 2023-2024 Queen, followed by a farewell speech, the introduction of the 2024-2025 Court and Queen Isabella, and a thank you to the President by Matthew J. Hedrick Jr., who has served Floral Trail for over 37 years as chairman, officer, and father and grandfather of past Queens. He introduced the current Board of Directors, which included Harry G. Yeatman, Kathy R. Schwab, and Virginia H. Locke (congratulatory remarks) as Vice Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer, Sally B. Hedrick, Kevin A. Teece, and Richard W. Schwab Sr. as Executive Officers. The program ended with a Court procession, which was joined by past Queens Courtney Hedrick Dusan, Brittany Reynolds Thomas, Heather Schwab Isham, Amanda Dufresne Rodigs, and Shelby Marie LaSalle, to a standing ovation. All praised Queen Isabella, who wore a gown designed by Giovani with a traditional cloak attached around her waist.
Many also recall that the Floral Trail was created in 1934 during the Great Depression when President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration created the Works Progress Administration to combat unemployment. Under its auspices, New Orleans was beautified. To further this cause, a series of Floral Trail queens and their entourage were selected between 1939 and 1940, starting with Rosalie Nix (later Mrs. Stephen C. Hertel).
In a “Thoughts” section published in the program, the 86th Flower Queen, Allison Hedrick, called on her successor, Queen Isabella, to “embrace it all” and make the most of her reign. Wise words for the new Queen Isabella.
Long live Catherine!
She had been planning the party for years, having previously held several smaller but exemplary birthday celebrations. Finally, the night approached, and the invitation arrived. Written in gold on ivory paper and topped with a coat of arms, it read: “We congratulate Katherine Barnes Tremaine on her 100th birthday.” On the back of the envelope was an insert with the number “100” surrounded by gold filigree and topped with a fleur-de-lis. The venue was the New Orleans Museum of Art, which she had supported for many years, and the dress code was “black tie.” As is common, it added, “no gifts please.”
Mrs. Tremaine is the only surviving member of the five physicians who founded the Ochsner Clinic in 1942. The five physicians were Alton Ochsner, Guy A. Caldwell, Francis E. “Duke” Lejeune, Curtis Tyrone and Mrs. Tremaine’s father, Edgar Barnes.
Wedding and event consultant and close friend Terry Cambais teamed with Catherine to plan the centennial celebration, and Jean Luke, owner of Ambrose Gardens, designed florals that complemented the jewel-toned hues of each of the museum’s galleries used for the party—particularly well-received floral arrangements in burgundy, golden yellow and deep eggplant yellow.
The Great Hall was bathed in white with French tulips, Casablanca lilies, orchids, peonies, roses and delphiniums. Luminous Events decorated every table with pillar candles, votive candles and strip candles. Crystal chandeliers hung over the stage and bar, and in the nearby E. John Bullard Foyer, a “Through the Years Photo Gallery” was on display, tracing the birthday beauty’s life through the decades.
At the memorial service, her son Atwood Collins (along with his wife Cindy, who lives in North Palm Beach, Florida) spoke to thank his mother’s friends for the support they received when she returned to her hometown of the Crescent City in 2002. Other grandsons who spoke included Porter Collins of Houston and Dwight Collins of Larchmont, New York. Dwight’s wife, Hilary, was also in attendance, as were Katherine’s great-grandsons James, Brynn and Timothy Collins. Additionally, Wayne Amedee, a close friend of the award winner, delivered a tribute. All praised the award winner’s agility and her ability to remember events from 90 years ago.
Pianist and friend Drew Montague and opera singer Melissa Marshall entertained the audience with arias that Katherine sang when she was a regular performer with the Light Opera of Manhattan at the Room Theatre in New York City. The repertoire consisted of Gilbert and Sullivan. Representing the National WWII Museum, the Victory Swing Orchestra performed with gusto. In addition, Irma Thomas and the Professionals marked the 100th anniversary celebration with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.”
Chef John Folss, a frequent guest at her parties, and his company created culinary wonders including Oceta caviar, jumbo crab meat, a selection of cold soups, seafood and meat stations, blue corn grits, and seared foie gras. “It’s an honor and a privilege to be called upon as chef tonight,” he said as he read the menu to the awed attendees.
Guests at the party included Susan Taylor, Dr. Kurt Gitter and Alice Yellen, Dr. Joe and Wendy D’Arovisio, David and Katherine Edwards, Dr. Julie A. Marmiliod, Dr. Philip Deneux, Ann and King Milling, Dr. and Mrs. Freddie Abi Samra, Shirley Trusty Corey, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Chauveau, Suzanne and Richard Wang, Ann and Jean Puleo, Dawn Dedeaux, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Moulthrop, Dr. Linda McElveen, Mary Lou (John L) Ochsner, several members of the Ochsner family, Marjorie Harper, and countless others.
Many songs lit up the evening, including “Un Bel Di,” “I Could Have Danced All Night,” and “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” but one song sung by Irma Thomas expressed how everyone felt about Katherine Barnes Tremaine that night: “Ruler of My Heart.”