Browse the obituary of Blake Belknap Whalen-Encalarde December 26 2022 residing in Gretna, Louisiana for funeral burial details. Write a message of sympathy or a last tribute to perpetue the friendship thread
December 26 2022
Blake Belknap Whalen-Encalarde departed this life on December 26th, 2022 at the age of thirty-four. He is survived by his wife, Kelly Encalarde, his parents Kathleen Whalen and Wayne Encalarde, his children Jude and Luna Encalarde, his siblings Wyane Colbert, Marcia Encalarde, Wayne Encalarde Jr. and a loving group of cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and loyal friends. He is preceded in death by his sister Khrysten Encalarde, his nephew Elijah Colbert, grandparents Octave and Ione Sambrowne, and grandparents Thomas Whalen and Evelyn Belknap. He was born at Baptist Hospital on December 19, 1988. He was a proud New Orleanian who attended New Orleans public schools and NOCCA. After Hurricane Katrina, through the generosity of Idyllwild Arts Academy he received his high school diploma in 2006. He returned immediately after graduation and earned his Bachelor’s of Art in English from University of New Orleans. He left NOLA briefly to study poetry and received a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Arizona where he met his wife, Kelly Scherwitzki, also studying poetry. They returned to New Orleans in 2013. Blake started the role of which he was most proud when he became a father to Jude Haven Encalarde in 2015, and to Luna Whalen Encalarde in 2019. Blake first worked as a teacher before joining the family business, WJE, LLC as a plumber. Blake loved to fish, play his trumpet and ukulele, go to Jazzfest, listen to live music, dance, cook and eat delicious food, and learn everything about the world around him. No one who ever met Blake will forget him. He will be deeply missed. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Leo St. Raymond Catholic Church, 2916 Paris Avenue on Saturday, December 31, 2022 at 10:00 am. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am. Interment: St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. Arrangements by D.W. Rhodes Funeral Home, 3933 Washington Avenue. Please visit www.rhodesfuneral.com to sign the guestbook.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Blake Belknap Whalen-Encalarde December 26 2022.
Death notice for the town of: Gretna, state: Louisiana