Louisa Denise Adams Monfort

Louisa Denise Adams Monfort passed away on August 15, 2008, due to Leukemia complications at the age of 57. She leaves behind her loving husband of 26 years, Robert, daughters Jean and Rachelle, son Patrick, and grandson Daniel. She also leaves behind her mother, Jean Adams, sisters Pamela (Jim) Paloma and Gail (LeRoy) Ose. Louisa is preceded in death by her father George Adams and brother Kirk Adams. Daughter to George and Jean Adams, Louisa lived abroad with her family in Japan during her childhood. She attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she received a Bachelors of Arts in Theater. It was here that she also improved upon her fencing skills, a sport she would later teach at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana. Upon graduating, she enrolled in the United States Navy, where she achieved the rank of Lieutenant and served abroad in Sigonella, Sicily. After she returned to the United States, Louisa retired from military service and went back to her artwork. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a Masters in Art History, and went on to graduate from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago with her Bachelor’s in Fine arts, and a Masters of Fine Arts in Printmaking and Lithography. She also worked as a teacher at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. After completing her degrees in Chicago and teaching there for a brief time, Louisa worked at Saint Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Indiana as an Art professor for several years. She then took a position as head costume designer for Valparaiso University, where her work included productions such as “King Lear.” It was during this time she was diagnosed with Chronic Lymphatic Leukemia (CLL), but she did not let the diagnosis keep her from expanding her horizons. Louisa returned to government service not long after completing her work at Valparaiso, taking a position with the Federal government until 2006. This service included a four year deployment. Three of those years were in Athens, Greece, and one year she was stationed in various parts of the world. When her contract was completed, Louisa returned to Rensselaer, Indiana with her family and started teaching again at Saint Joseph’s College. Louisa Monfort’s art is part of the permanent collection at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, as well as the Hullman Foundation in Terre Haute, Indiana. In addition to this, Louisa enjoyed making small handmade projects, which she would give to friends and family. Being a very spiritual person, she hand stitched altar cloths for both Saint Joseph’s College and St. David’s Episcopal Church in Ashburn, Virginia. Before her death, Louisa had just started her own business, Home Again Quilts, which would make luxury, useable, eco-friendly quilts. Louisa Monfort believed strongly in the idea that merit should be enough to achieve greatness. Her life was dedicated to doing the best that she could in all things. Those who knew her knew that her world travels had a profound impact on how she viewed not only her art, but the constant struggles in the world. As a teacher, she was fair to her students, and not afraid to push them to do better. As a wife she was loving and generous, supporting her husband in times of war and peace. As a mother, she was a caring taskmaster, expecting of her children the same level of work as she expected from herself. She was honest, intelligent and strong, and she will be missed. Donations can be made to Saint Augustine Elementary School of Rensselaer, Indiana, or to the Indiana Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The family will receive friends on Wednesday August 20, 2008 from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer with a prayer service at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 AM on Thursday August 21, 2008 at the St. Joseph College Chapel with Father Tim McFarland officiating. Cremation will follow.