Melanie Ann Haydel

Melanie Ann Haydel, age 62, passed away at home on April 2, 2025 after a long illness.
Melanie was born in New Orleans, LA on July 22, 1962, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Bert Haydel. Melanie was a graduate of Trinity Episcopal Highschool. After graduation in 1980, she attended Louisiana State University. Melanie was admitted to the University of Southern Mississippi nursing school where she achieved her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing. Upon graduation, she worked in Jackson, MS at St Dominic's hospital until she moved back to New Orleans. She worked at Hotel Dieu where she received the honor of "outstanding nurse". She later worked at Ochsner Hospital where she was asked by Dr Larry Hollier to assist him with research in his vascular surgery practice. Melanie was a true advocate for her patients and was often recognized for her exemplary nursing skills and caring for her patients throughout her career. Upon moving back to McComb in 2009, she was hired by Dr Paul Dykes and Dr Braxter Irby as the Research Coordinator for Brookhaven Nephrology Clinic. Her nursing skills, communication and organization skills, all prepared her for this position where she excelled in establishing the research program as one of the best in the United States.
Melanie was so full of life and brought fun and joy to everything she did. She was a member of the Junior League in New Orleans and President of the Ladies Golf Association at Chateau Country Club in New Orleans. She was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing in numerous tournaments with her mom, sister, Uncle Feedie and her brother-in-law, Alan throughout Mississippi and Louisiana. She offered her support and creativity for the annual Lad and Lassie couples golf tournament of which her mom was chairman over 20 years, at Fernwood Country Club.
Melanie's greatest joy in life was the birth of her daughter, Natalee Nathan, in 2001. She eventually moved back to McComb when Natalee was 8 years old. Natalee was so proud of her mom as she was beautiful, smart, and always had a flair for making every occasion special and fun. Her home was always open for Natalee and her friends to gather and enjoy fun times together. She supported Natalee in every way and inspired her to do great things emphasizing to her that there was nothing she couldn't accomplish with hard work and prayer. They enjoyed life together and were great travel buddies with trips to Spain, Paris, Greece, Italy, Dominican Republic, Cancun and numerous resorts domestically. If you knew Melanie, then you knew how proud she was of Natalee throughout her life from girl scouts, earning the Gold award to pledging, Kappa Kappa Gamma at Ole Miss, the same sorority that she pledged at LSU, to most recently being accepted to the Nurse Practitioner program at Vanderbilt where she earned a scholarship for her academic excellence.
Melanie enjoyed tennis, golf, gardening, snow skiing and especially sunbathing on the beach. She was a member of the McComb Garden Club and loved creating arrangements for the annual flower show. Everything she did, she did with passion! She was a member of St Alphonsus Catholic Church. She loved her church and taught religious education classes to 6th graders in the PSR program.
Melanie loved her family and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her parents, Shirley & Bert Haydel, her sister, Wendy Blue (Alan), her nephew, Cole Blue and her daughter, Natalee Nathan and many cousins, aunts and uncles and close friends. She shared many special friendships over the years that were a source of continuous joy, love and support. We're especially grateful to Robbie Cook, Glen Smith, Kenny Gandolfo and Dr Paul Dykes.
Visitation and Mass will be held at St Alphonsus Church of McComb, MS, with the celebrant being Fr Suresh Thirumalareddy. Interment will follow at Hollywood Cemetery.
The visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at St Alphonsus Church McComb, Ms. There will be a funeral Mass immediately after visitation followed by a graveside service.
The pallbearers will be her brother-in-law, Alan Blue, her nephew, Cole Blue, special friends, Mike Fitzgerald, Glen Smith, Robbie Cook, John Eitmann.
Melanie's family thanks Dr Paul Dykes and Deaconess Hospice for the support and care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St Alphonsus Church Capital Campaign.