Chair of the Lakeview Regional board of trustees passes

It is with great sadness that Lakeview Hospital , a campus of Tulane Medical Center, today announced the passing of Willie Paretti, chair of the Lakeview Regional board of trustees.

Paretti died Tuesday, April 9, surrounded by her loving family. “Willie was a great champion of the Northshore and a dear friend to all of us here at Lakeview Regional,” said Hiral Patel, Lakeview Regional CEO. “We offer our deepest condolences to her family during this incredibly difficult time. We will all miss her greatly.”

Paretti was an integral part of the leadership team at Lakeview Regional. She was a visionary and humble servant who demonstrated extraordinary interest and effort in improving community health, consistent with the mission of the hospital. She served as the chair of the board of trustees since 1983.

“She leaves a legacy of care and compassion that will be profoundly missed,” Patel said. “Willie never lost sight of the need to provide the best care to our patients and families every day. We will forever be indebted to her for her strong leadership, boundless energy and significant contributions to Lakeview Regional during her tenure.”

Paretti dedicated her life to serving the community through organizations that make an impact in St. Tammany Parish. She served on the Local Emergency Preparedness Commission Executive Committee, the STARC Advisory Board, the Children’s Advocacy Center and Hope House Advisory Board. Additionally, she was an active board member of the St. Tammany Commission on Cultural Affairs, Causeway Police Charitable Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the Southeastern Louisiana University Development Foundation.

She was presented the St. Tammany West Chamber's 2013 Community Leadership Award for her selfless dedication to improving the quality of life in our community. Engaged in active service assisting both children and young adults, Paretti was instrumental in the creation of Hope House, the Children's Advocacy Center sanctuary for abused children, earning her the Hope House Children’s’ Advocacy Award. She was also active with HOYST (Homeless Outreach for Youth in St. Tammany), which provides shelter and transitional housing, as well as supportive services that lead to self-sufficiency and stable living conditions. Paretti was also bestowed with the Angel Among Us Award and the YMCA Hero Award. Sophisticated Women Magazine honored her for her philanthropic endeavors in 2012.

Paretti has served on a number of other local community boards, including the Northshore Community Foundation, the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, the St. Tammany Association for Retarded Citizens, the Alliance for Good Government Executive Committee, and the Maritime Museum, where she also served as Chairman of the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival.

A resident of St. Tammany Parish for 30 years, Paretti was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, and she was a small business owner. She was a sustaining member of the Greater Covington Junior League and a Charter Officer of the Krewe of Eve. She proudly raised two children in St. Tammany Parish, affording her the opportunity to serve on school PTA Boards for nine years, coach soccer and direct high school dance teams. In addition to her two children, she leaves behind seven grandchildren.