We Remember

We Remember: An Alumnae Tradition

Since La Leche League’s founding in 1956, many caring individuals have been involved. Active Leaders, retired Leaders, husbands, family members, and others influenced and supported La Leche League. In the organization’s 61-year history, there have been thousands of Leaders who worked long and hard for the organization and are missed by their LLL families. At “We Remember” ceremonies, we pay tribute to Leaders who have died. In 2001, the first ceremony was held at the Alumnae Tea during the La Leche League International Conference in Chicago. The idea for a remembrance ceremony came after the death of a well-known longtime Leader, Roberta Bishop Johnson, editor of Whole Foods for the Whole Family. In 2000, Roberta lost a long battle with cancer. Her passing became the catalyst for an idea to honor all Leaders who died. Nancy Franklin, an Alumnae Association Board member, proposed modifying an annual Texas A&M University ceremony called “muster” to remember any A&M student or graduate who had died in the past year. Nancy suggested using a similar ceremony at the 2001 Alumnae Tea. Names, dates, and hometowns of Leaders who died since the beginning of La Leche League were submitted. By the time of the Tea, the list was complete.

To best honor Leaders, the Association found the “We Remember” prayer often read at Jewish funerals as the simple, dignified, and heartfelt way to remember each one. LLL co-Founder Marian Tompson and Nancy Franklin read the poem and read the list of names arranged by year of death. It became a powerful tradition to honor the lives of women who have helped make La Leche League what it is today. “So as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them.” Leaders’ names were recorded in the “We Remember” album. Susan Mocsny Thomas adds names in calligraphy. For a while, the album was kept at the LLLI Office in Chicago, Illinois. Currently Susan keeps the “We Remember” book and continues to add names submitted on the Alumnae website. The Alumnae Council/Board oversees submissions. Susan brought the album to the 2017 ceremony, as she has done for Alumnae trips in 2011, 2013, and 2015.

Fran Dereszynski adapted the above history from Melissa Clark Vickers' article, published in Leaven, Vol. 38 No. 1, February-March 2002.

On this page, we pay tribute to Leaders who have died and whose names were submitted for the list. If a deceased Leader's name is missing from this list, please go to and send us the information