Mother, grandmother, sister, friend, force of nature, and deeply beloved Martha’s Vineyard community member, Louisa B. Luening died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 82 on August 27, 2024, in North Falmouth.
To know Louisa was to be loved by Louisa. Her care for others and for the world at large was boundless and all-encompassing. If she asked you how you were doing, she really wanted to know. Her hugs were legendary, her smile infectious. She knew more about the employees that served her coffee at Mocha Mott’s than many know about their closest friends. She was a joy, a ray of light, a character. She believed in justice, she believed in people. She believed in you, she loved you, and she would fight for you.
Born in Chicago, Ill., on June 2, 1942, the first child of Eugene and Ruth Luening, Louisa grew up with her two younger siblings, Margie and Larry. Eugene was a Unitarian minister, and the family traveled widely as he served in churches across the Northeast, Midwest, the South, and Canada. During the summer, the family began visiting Oak Bluffs, and even as they moved around, they always returned, eventually buying a home on the Lagoon.
Louisa was very close to her father, and was inspired by his passion for social justice and racial equality. She was an active member of member of the SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Council) in high school in Memphis, Tenn., in the1960s, and once she began to be bullied because her father desegregated his church congregation there, she dropped out and traveled the country, from California to Lake Tahoe, where she worked as a casino waitress. Over several years, she went to beauty school for hairdressing, and eventually got her CNA certificate, working at Windemere and, later, as a home health aide. She had many jobs over the years on the Island that she was very enthusiastic about, as she was about all things she valued, from various retail jobs, service jobs (working for a time at the former Circuit Cafe in Oak Bluffs), hair stylist, and chambermaid. The overarching theme was her commitment to connecting with people, no matter the vocation.
Louisa had her first two children, son Erich Luening, in 1968, and daughter Sabrina Luening, in 1972, against the advice of many people at the time, as she was unmarried and financially unstable. But she knew she wanted children, and she was determined to raise them on her own, if need be.
Louisa was a fantastically open person. She was featured in the first edition of the impactful womens’ health book, “Our Bodies, Ourselves,” allowing a photographer to shoot the live birth of Sabrina. She was more than happy to show the volume to anyone and everyone over the years, as she always had a copy on her bookcase in every house she ever lived in.
As a single mom, she lived in Boston for a number of years with her first two children, working at the famous Jazz Workshop for a time, where legendary musicians like Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis performed. But Boston proved to be a difficult place to raise two Black children alone on very little money in the 1970s, so she ultimately moved to the Vineyard, where her parents had retired to Oak Bluffs.
Louisa was open about her struggles, always in the hopes that she could help someone else who was struggling. After years of struggling with alcoholism, she eventually got sober in 1975, with the help of her dear friend, the late Frank Baird. She was forever grateful and proud of her sobriety, and could frequently be heard saying, “This too shall pass.” The Serenity Prayer adorned her home and her language throughout her life.
Louisa had her third child, Talia, in 1980, her final “womblett,” as she called the three children she loved, raised, and remained fiercely proud of until the end.
She is survived by her son, Erich; daughters, Sabrina and Talia; granddaughter, Ella; as well as her sister, Marge Luening, of West Tisbury. She was predeceased by her parents, Eugene and Ruth; and by her brother Larry.
She will be remembered as she lived — passionately, bountifully, with a full, wild love by all who were blessed to have known her. May you rejoice with your sweet angels, Louisa! We love you!
Donations can be given to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, 111 Edgartown Road, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568; a community celebration of life is currently being planned for October.
I loved dearly and still love Louisa I am a writer but I cannot find the words to say just how stellar a person was she
I have not seen her in a while but she is always in my heart. Thank you Louisa
Thank you so much for this incredibly kind comment about our mom. Much appreciated.
What a warm, open and loving tribute, truly fitting of Louisa. I remember her big hugs and exuberant greetings, the kind that made a teenage girl feel seen and cared for. Love and strength to Erich, Sabrina and Talia, and everyone else who will feel this loss. Rest easy Ms. Louisa.
Oh Emma, thank you so much for these kind words about our mom. She truly was one of a kind.
Back in the early 70s our neighborhood near the Lagoon in OB was a perfect expression of “it takes a village”. All of the neighborhood children played together outdoors and ran freely in and out of each other’s homes. I will always fondly remember Mrs. Luening as one of our neighborhood mothers. R.I.P.
Sadly, but not unexpectedly, we seem to be in the middle of the passing of an era. Those of us who came onto the Vineyard in the late 60s and early 70s and thus may well have had a different experience here than those who came later, are dying. Let all of us who knew her remember Louisa as the bright, shining, positive light she was. She is irreplaceable, her exuberance is the memory I have of her, above all. I recall her dropping by to tell me of the expected arrival of Talia, over which she was just delighted. Later than that, she worked with us at Island Theatre Workshop. Though I hadn’t seen her in a while, I will miss her. Love to her children and Ms. Ella!
Thank you so much for this beautiful sentiment about our mom, and me specifically. I love hearing stories like this. Much appreciated and thank you for seeing that an amazing person she was. Much love to you.
“To know Louisa was to be loved by Louisa.” I cannot think of a more fitting description for a woman who was joy and love personified. As a former employee of Mocha Mott’s, I can confirm she knew and cared about each one of us, and we absolutely loved her. Erich, Sabrina, Talia, and Ella, I am so sorry for your loss, but her brilliant light continues to shine.
Thank you so much Casey. As you know, she had a special place I her heart for you and your family, especially Riley. Thank you for seeing her in all her glory and loving her back. We so deeply appreciate the love Motts gave to her over the years.
Louisa wore her angel pins, but in the way that magical people have she was the angel. I will always think fondly of her empathy and understanding for her vast orbit of people.
Dearest Louisa — You went your own way, were one of kind and any of us who knew you just smiled at how comfortable you were to be outside of all those boxes. I’ll miss your smile, your infectious energy that you sent out way before you arrived, and all the other things that were uniquely Louisa. The heavens are clanging their cymbals and blowing the trumpets in welcome and may you blessedly cheer up those wherever you go in the beyond as much as you cheered up us on planet Earth. Hugs. Will truly miss you.
Oh Niki, this is such a beautiful description of my mom… thank you so much. So appreciate you and these kind words.
Oh Jamie, so beautiful said. Thank you for this. She truly was and now IS an angel.
Talia, how lovely of you to respond to each of us who remember your mother. We join you in missing and loving her, and realizing what a wonderful part she played in our lives, all of us ’60s and ’70s folks, and beyond.
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