It is with great sadness that I am writing this. One of our truly great souls left this earth yesterday: Marie Antoinette Elbling, wife of Master Chef Paul Elbling. Marie and Chef Paul enjoyed a 50+ year journey of love, life and happiness. For over 35 years, Marie and Chef Paul transformed La Petite France into Richmond’s premiere dining experience. It was Marie’s warm and welcoming nature that created an atmosphere of class and elegance. If you visited once, monthly or annually, Marie treated you like family and strived to make your experience a memorable one. You could run into Marie at St. Mary’s, at countless charitable events or anywhere and you would receive a smile, a hug or a kind word. She was generous and giving. I can picture her at the French Food Festival at her booth talking to everyone who came by with enthusiasm. She exuded beauty inside and out. A dear friend. A class act.

Here are the arrangements for Marie Antoinette

Visitation is at Bliley’s (3801 Augusta Ave, Richmond, VA 23230) 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 14 with a prayer service to follow.

Service at St. Mary’s Church on Thursday, July 15 starting at 11:00 a.m. Reception to follow. The service will also be streamed live here on Livestream.

In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to St. Mary’s Kitchen fund in her memory (St. Mary's Online Giving | St. Mary's Catholic Church (stmarysrichmond.org)). And give someone you love something lavender because it was her favorite.

Marie we love you with all our heart and will miss you dearly!