Rachel Anne Abadie

Rachel Anne Manuel Abadie, 51, of Lake Charles passed away Monday, January 24, 2022 while vacationing in Costa Rica.

Mrs. Abadie was a native of Grand Lake where she was raised and educated.  A graduate of Grand Lake High School, where she was a talented athlete, active member and participant in many areas: Sweet Sixteen Basketball Team, 400 Meter State Track Champion (setting the state record), 4-H, SADD (Students Against Drunk Drivers, Yearbook Club, Student Council, Junior Beta, Beta, FBLA (Future Business Leader of American), AGATE (A Gifted and Talented Education) YCA (Young Christian Athletes) and CYO (Catholic Youth Organization). Rachel was not only athletic, but she was also beautiful and intelligent, representing her Class as Miss Grand Lake and Salutatorian. Her college career was much the same, graduating Summa Cum Laude with Bachelor in Elementary Education within three years and was nominated 1st Year, Teacher of the Year Award while at TS Cooley.  She was a Science teacher at S.J. Welsh Middle School for nine years and was later elected to serve one term for the Cameron Parish School Board.  Once retired from the teaching system, Rachel continued to contribute to the Grand Lake Community and its students.  It was in high school that she met her love, André who came to be her husband of nearly thirty years, soulmate and life partner. Rachel’s second career was pursed alongside André in Real Estate and Property Management and was a success.  Rachel enjoyed her downtime working in her flower gardens worthy of Southern Living Magazine, weekend escapes to their home in Toledo Bend, and spending time with family and friends.  Her fun times were as a bit of a social butterfly: traveling with friends, activities with members of Krewe de DU Lac and hosting countless birthday and holiday celebrations for family and friends.  Rachel was of Catholic faith, attended St. Mary of the Lake and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church.  She will be most remembered for her love and devotion to her family and her spirit that often brighten the day of others.

She leaves to cherish her memory, her husband, Brennan André Abadie of Lake Charles; son, Brennan Alexander Abadie of Big Lake; mother, Mary Helen Manuel of Lake Charles; sister, Mary LaCasse (Thomas) of Lake Charles; nieces, Meagan and Madison LaCasse, Samantha Morris and Ashleigh LaCasse; dear friends, Chad and Kindra Kennedy and Marck and Paula Smythe and high school friends, Rhonda Boudreaux and Kay Lynn Breaux Garcia.

She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Lee Manuel and her extended family, father-in-law, Harold Abadie; mother-in-law, Ann Breaux Abadie and brothers-in-law, Brett and Jaimé Abadie.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:00 AM Tuesday, February 8th, 2022 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven Catholic Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.  Monsignor James Gaddy will officiate. Visitation Monday will be from 5:00 until 8:00 PM with a Rosary service beginning at 6:00 PM and will resume Tuesday from 9:00 until 10:30 AM at University Baptist Church. 

Following the Funeral Mass, a Celebration of Life Reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall of Sale Street Baptist Church, main entrance.

Memorial donations may be made to The Rachel Manuel Abadie Scholarship Fund at Grand Lake High School, 1039 Highway 384, Lake Charles, LA 70607.  Checks will be made to Grand Lake High School with memo: Rachel Abadie Scholarship.