Week of celebrating Chase’s life culminated Monday in Treme
Hundreds of New Orleanians came out Monday to pay their final respects to Leah Chase, known as the “Queen of Creole Cuisine”.
Chase died June 1 at 96 years old, and since then, the city has mourned her death and celebrated her life with numerous second lines and memorial services. On Monday, a funeral Mass was held at St. Peter Claver Church. A traditional second line immediately followed, which passed by her restaurant, Dooky Chase.
St. Peter Claver Catholic Church Rev. John Asare-Dankwah hugs Stella Chase, the daughter of Chef Leah Chase, next to the casket containing her body during a funeral mass in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans, La. Monday, June 10, 2019. The Queen of Creole Cuisine at Dooky Chase's Restaurant passed away last Saturday June 1st at the age of 96. Born on January 6, 1923 she later served two U.S. presidents and also Freedom Riders during the Civil Rights era. The restaurant she ran with her husband, Dooky Chase, Jr., served as a meeting place for African-American politicians for decades. Photo by Matthew Hinton