Lee Marie Manuel

Opelousas – Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2020 for Lee Marie Manuel at St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas. The Reverend Monsignor Russell Harrington will officiate the Mass. Rite of Committal will follow at Bellevue Memorial Park.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 25, 2020 at LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home in Opelousas from 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. A Rosary will be prayed at 11:30 by David Guillory.

Lee Marie Manuel, age 92 and a long-time resident of Opelousas, passed away on Thursday, January 23, 2020.

Lee Marie was born in Eunice to Morris Manuel and Lula Fontenot Manuel. She attended Eunice Elementary School and then AIC. When she was 17, she joined the congregation of the Marianites of the Holy Cross and graduated from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans. Lee Marie then went to San Antonio to further her studies. She also attended Xavier University where she earned a teaching degree and a certification in music. Lee Marie taught grade school in Louisiana for nearly 50 years. She delighted in teaching the young children for so many years. Aside from the standard curriculum, she also taught piano lessons.

Her mother desired to travel and see the world before she died, and Lee Marie being a nun and living structured life, didn’t get to get out much, so she decided to travel with her. They got to spend a full summer traveling together, where she truly found her love of travel. After the death of her mother, she continued traveling with a friend and cousin, Cecile Doucet.

Lee Marie also had a love of dance and music. At the nursing home Senior Olympics, she won gold and silver medals for her Cajun dancing. She will be remembered for her fun-loving personality and she will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her brother, Clifton Manuel and his wife, Lois; sister, Norma Jane Fingerhut; sister-in-law, Nada Manuel; nieces and nephews, Deanna Stelly, Natalie Pilgreen, Carolyn Sherwood, Ginnie Moody, Catherine Crane, Gary Donnel, Darryl Donnel, Troy Donnel, Steve Fingerhut, Joan Fulton, Mark Manuel, Michael Manuel and Amanda Schexnailder; numerous great-nieces and nephews; and also several great-great-nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents, Morris Manuel and Lula Fontenot Manuel; brothers, Roderick Manuel and John Manuel; sister, Amerilla Donnel; and brothers-in-law, Hank Fingerhut and Woody Donnel.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 (337-942-2638) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.