Chappaquiddick on Bayou St. John – New Orleans, La.
Michelle M. Haensel Memorial Web Site
Shelly was born on March 30, 1969 at old Hotel Dieu Hospital on Tulane Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana. She lived in the New Orleans area her entire life. Shelly was Cookie and Bill Haensel's first child. Shelly is survived by two sisters, Nicole Marie and Natalie Marie. Dancing and swimming began at the age of 2 along with ice skating. Shelly danced with several local ballet companies. She attended and graduated from St. Pius X grammar school in New Orleans, Louisiana and was active in school sports, cheerleading, chorus and plays while maintaining an excellent scholastic record. She also participated in age group swimming and diving and won many awards for both. Upon graduation from St. Pius X School, Shelly was accepted into Mt. Carmel Academy in New Orleans, Louisiana. She served four years on the Mount Carmel Carmelletts dance team. She was also in the French Honors Society and received the Apostolic Hours Award. She was an avid reader and enjoyed writing. While in high school, she became a certified WSI swim instructor, lifeguarded at the Kenilworth Cabana Club in New Orleans, Louisiana, and offered private swim lessons for seven years at home and at private pools. After graduation from Mount Carmel Academy in 1987, Shelly attended Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. At Nicholls State she pursued a degree in education, was a residence hall assistant, worked with the university radio station, and was a member of the English Society.
Shelly
was very much an unselfish family person. It was therefore not surprising when
she interrupted her education to remain home and help care for her terminally
ill grandfather until his death in 1994. During this period, Shelly worked for
several prominent local law firms. In 1995, Shelly returned to college at the University of New Orleans to
complete her bachelors
degree in English and was just six hours short of graduating at the time of her
death. Her faith, gentle manner, unselfishness, family values, and wonderful
personality will be remembered by all who knew her.
A
scholarship has been established at Mount Carmel Academy in
memory of Shelly Haensel. The scholarship fund has been established because of
Shelly’s love of dancing and is intended to provide partial financial aid
to members of the Carmeletts dance team. Anyone
wishing to contribute can send their contribution to the Shelly Haensel
Scholarship Fund, Mt. Carmel Academy, 7027 Milne
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70124. Contributions of any amount are
welcomed and accepted.
For more
information about this web site, contact Cookie and Bill Haensel at shaensel@cox.net
or by telephone at (504) 454-3905.
Memorial at crime scene on Bayou St. John (New Orleans, LA.) in memory of Shelly Haensel
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May 5, 2012