Keith Jude Thibodeaux

Keith Jude Thibodeaux (69) passed away peacefully at his home with his wife by his side on August 30, 2025. Keith was the son of the late James Erwin Thibodeaux and Lucy Hebert Silvio. He was a native of Baton Rouge and a resident of Jeanerette for the past 25 years.

Keith is survived by his wife of 30 years, Celeste LeJeune, his father-in-law Norbert LeJeune, Sr. and companion Charlene V. Banna; in-laws, Michelle and Tom Barnett, Denny and Amanda LeJeune, Jeff and Linh LeJeune, and Norbert Paul and Michelle LeJeune, Jr., as well as special friend and gardener Jason Caldwell. He was the proud uncle of Andre, Addison, Jasmine (Elijah), Rebecca (Henry), Rachel (Ed), David, Isaac, Jacob (Madeline), Peter (Nicole), and Wesley (Mary). He recently reminisced about the years when the 'kids' were growing up as the best years of his life, saying "… we had our health, our new garden, the kids and the LeJeune family holidays with Ms. Rose's cooking and Mr. Norb's crawfish boils."

Keith is preceded in death by his beloved parents, his mother-in-law, Rosalie Telotta LeJeune and his great-nephew Eden Isiah Mitchell.

Professionally, Keith was a visionary leader who had a 40+ year career working in the information technology field. In 2004, Keith earned Louisiana's most prestigious technology award, the Governor's Technology Award for "Technology Leader of the Year" under Governor Kathleen Blanco.

In 2005, Keith again received a Louisiana Governor's Technology Award, this time in the "Technology Startup–Non-Profit" category. Following in 2006 and 2007, Keith was named as one of the five appointed state commissioners to govern the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise, as well as being elected to the Board of Directors of the Louisiana Technology Council. Years later, Keith closed his career by rejoining the private sector, where he combined his wealth of corporate and governmental experience in information security risk management, to serve as a Director of Cybersecurity and Compliance in the healthcare industry.

In 2020, with a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Keith set out to write a gardening book; gardening being one of his passions for much of his life…so much so that he became a licensed landscape horticulturist using what he learned to transform three bare acres on the Bayou Teche into what he called his tropical escape. Keith was able to finish his book early this year, a feat he was so happy to accomplish.

Keith was many things throughout his life - spouse, son, brother, and friend. He will leave a void in the lives of those who loved him, but we are all thankful to have had him as a part of our lives for the time he was here.

We would like to offer our special thanks to our neighbors and friends, Kerry and Nolan Schexnayder, who offered support and meals and helped maintain the property and gardens throughout Keith's illness.

A celebration of life service will be held at a later date.

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