UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT

                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



        DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): AUGUST 18, 1999



                            STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

             LOUISIANA               0-19508                 72-0693290
(State or other jurisdiction         (Commission          (I.R.S. Employer
       of incorporation)             File Number)        Identification No.)



                         110 VETERANS MEMORIAL BOULEVARD
                           METAIRIE, LOUISIANA  70005
              (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)



                                 (504) 837-5880
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)





ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

     On August 18, 1999 the Company issued the following press release.




CONTACT:  Kenneth C. Budde
          Stewart Enterprises, Inc.
          110 Veterans Memorial Boulevard
          Metairie, LA   70005
          504/837-5880

                                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


STEWART ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES STOCK REPURCHASE PROGRAM


Metairie,  Louisiana,  August  18, 1999 ... Stewart Enterprises, Inc. (Nasdaq
NMS: STEI) announced today that  its  Board  of  Directors has authorized the
repurchase of up to 5% of its outstanding common stock,  or approximately 5.6
million shares.

Joseph P. Henican, III, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer said: "Our
Board believes that the current market valuation of our common stock does not
adequately  reflect the Company's inherent value or future potential.   As  a
result, we believe  that  this repurchase program represents a prudent use of
our capital and an effective  way to reinvest in ourselves, while maintaining
a strong balance sheet and sufficient  financial  resources  to  pursue other
attractive investment opportunities that may become available."

The  Company  has  approximately 111.8 million common shares outstanding,  of
which approximately  108.2  million  are  Class  A shares and 3.6 million are
Class B shares.  The repurchases will be limited to  the  Company's  Class  A
common  stock  and will be made in the open market or in privately negotiated
transactions  at   such  times  and  in  such  amounts  as  management  deems
appropriate, depending  on  market conditions and other factors.  The closing
price of the Company's Class A common stock on August 17 was $6-9/32.

Founded  in  1910, Stewart Enterprises  is  the  third  largest  provider  of
products and services  in the death care industry in North America, currently
owning and operating 630  funeral  homes and 157 cemeteries in North America,
South America, Europe and the Pacific Rim.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Statements  made  herein  that are not  historical  facts  are  forward-looking
statements.  The Company's  market  value  and  financial  results could differ
materially  from  expectations due to several important factors  including  the
following:  the Company's  ability  to make acquisitions and enter new markets;
the economy, death rate and competition  in  the  Company's  markets; financial
market  conditions,  including  stock and bond prices and interest  rates;  the
Company's ability to achieve economies  of  scale  and  manage  growth; and the
performance of acquired businesses.  Such factors, and others, are  more  fully
described in Item 5 of the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April  30,
1999.   The  Company  assumes  no  obligation  to  update information contained
herein.
_______________________________________________________________________________




                                  SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange  Act  of 1934,
 the  Registrant  has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf  by
 the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                    STEWART ENTERPRISES, INC.




 August 18, 1999                    /s/ KENNETH C. BUDDE
                                    --------------------
                                    KENNETH C. BUDDE
                                    EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
                                    CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER