Lauralee “Peedy” Pond Helgason died Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, in New Orleans. She was 78.

She was born March 31, 1933, in Colon, Panama. She attended St. Mary’s Academy, Panama; Audubon School, New Orleans; and Ursuline High School, New Orleans. She attended Jefferson Parish Vo-Tec Nursing Program, becoming a licensed practical nurse, and Nicholls State University, becoming a registered nurse. She was employed by West Jefferson Medical Center in Marrero, La., for 18 years and Louisiana Health Care Review in Baton Rouge for five years.

She loved traveling and, as a child, she traveled with her parents throughout the Caribbean. She later made several trips to Canada, Europe and many of the states, including Hawaii. At age 76 she went on a cruise through the Panama Canal, returning to her childhood home in Colon.

She was a member of several genealogical groups: Madison Parish Historical Society, Louisiana Historical Society, New Orleans Genealogical Society, Jefferson Parish Historical Society and St. Bernard Historical Society.

Lauralee was preceded in death by her husband, John “Jack” Helgason Jr.; her father, Walter A. Pond Jr.; her mother, Virginia Tete Pond Ivey, and her stepfather, Daniel H. Ivey Sr.; brothers, Daniel H. Ivey Jr. and the Rev. Jimmy Armstrong, S.J.; and sisters Helen Pond Owen, Lynn Marie Ivey, Karen Ivey Miranne, Kevin Ivey Hatcher, Louise Ivey Dillon and Katherine Armstrong Davis.

Survivors include her eight children, John “Andy” Helgason III, Sandra Helgason Reeves and Joseph “Bam” Helgason (Gendora), all of Westwego, La., James “Randy” Helgason (Kathy) of Colleyville, Texas, Jonathan Evan Helgason of Tallulah, La., Jeffrey Kevin Helgason (Angela) of Luling, La., Jon “Jonny” Helgason (Pamela) of Wichita, Kan., and Dr. Jay Walter Helgason of New Orleans; brothers Walter “Terry” Pond (Carol) of Metairie, La., and the Rev. John Armstrong, S.J., of New Orleans; sisters Jane Ivey Kammer of Pensacola Beach, Fla., Marianna Armstrong (Faradj) of Baton Rouge, and Susan Armstrong (Mother Benedict de la Passion, Little Sisters of the Poor) of Washington, D.C.; six grandsons; two granddaughters; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Fisher Funeral Home with the Rev. John Armstrong officiating. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the hour of service. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.