Toby BassettLAFAYETTE - Toby Bassett, 90, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 11 am with her three children at her bedside. Toby, (Laurenell Claire Fleming), the eighth of nine children of Delphine (Mire) and Edmund Fleming, was born on February 12, 1926, in her beloved city of New Orleans. She was a graduate of Sacred Heart high school and Dominican college with a major in history.Toby met the love of her life, Aubrey, in 1948 and they were married on June 11, 1949 and enjoyed 63 years together. Toby and Aubrey had four children around whom their life centered, Kathy, Jeff, David and Liz. They lived in New Orleans until 2005 when the winds of Katrina blew them to Lafayette. There they were welcomed by many wonderful people who took them in with open arms. They were able to live out their lives in their new home away from home with all their children and grandchildren in close proximity.Toby never knew a stranger. Within seemingly minutes after meeting her, people shared with her their problems, secrets, love lives, hopes and dreams. It was her gift to make people instantly comfortable with her. She had a way of helping people see the sunny side of life. Her hobbies were family, bridge and traveling the world. She was very close with her eight brothers and sisters who all shared an unusually close family bond. Coming from a large family she had scores of nephews, nieces and cousins whom she loved. It was important to her that her extended family stay connected. Outside of family, bridge was her passion. She achieved her goal of becoming a platinum life master and was widely recognized as one of the top bridge players in the South.Toby was preceded in death by her husband Aubrey, her son David, her sisters Sr Delphine Fleming D.C., Denise Davis, and Estelle Kerner and her brothers Edmund, Richard, Robert, Donald and David Fleming. She is survived by her children Kathy (Charles) Hardy, Jeff (Cecette) Bassett, Liz (Tony) Parker, by her grandchildren Justin Hardy, Ashley (J Carr) Carothers, Laura Bassett, Taylor Bassett, Scott Bassett, Braden Parker and Nicole Parker and her great grandchildren, John Carr and Katherine Carothers. She is also survived by a host of nieces, nephews and cousins. The family is especially grateful to Toby's devoted friend and caregiver, Judy Guidry, to Agnes Kilchrist and all her Angels, and to all of Toby's many awesome bridge friends who assisted Toby getting to, from and around the bridge club in her later years. The family also wishes to thank the many compassionate doctors, nurses and health care providers who took such great care of Toby. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home in New Orleans. Visitation will begin at 10 am on Wednesday January 18, 2017 with a Mass to follow starting at noon. Everyone is invited to a second line procession led by the Storyville Stompers Brass Band to her grave site after the Mass. In lieu of flowers Toby requested that donations be made to her favorite charity, the Special Olympics.