Lou Anna Cecilia Chatelain Goudeau, 88, a longtime resident of Pearl River, Louisiana, passed away on June 2, 2023.

She was born to Emanuel and Nativa Chatelain in Marksville, Louisiana, on July 23, 1934, the youngest of five children. They worked hard on a small family farm, raising cattle, chickens, pigs, sweet potatoes, and cotton. Lou helped pick crops early in the morning before school. She was an avid horseback rider in her spare time. She graduated from Marksville High School in 1953.

Lou Anna Chatelain became engaged to Kelly Paul Goudeau Jr. during her senior year in high school. They married shortly after her graduation, on June 6, 1953. After a few years living in Lafayette while Kelly attended the Southwestern Louisiana Institute of Liberal and Technical Learning (which later became the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), Lou and Kelly moved to San Antonio for Kelly's basic training in the US Air Force. Their daughter Pamela was born in 1956 while they were stationed in Texas, and then they lived in Napa, California for a couple years while Kelly completed his service.

After the Air Force, Kelly was hired by Shell Oil, and the family was able to move back to Louisiana, in Metairie. As his career with Shell advanced, they moved several more times over the decades, to New Iberia, LA; Gretna, LA (1963-1973); Kingwood, TX; and southwest Houston, TX. Their son James was born in 1960 while they lived in Louisiana. The family went on summer road trips to many other states. Everywhere they lived, Lou always enjoyed nature - gardening, walking in the woods, and caring for animals.

They finally settled in Pearl River, LA in 1982, where they had a house built for them with their own little forest next-door. When he retired from Shell, Kelly became a woodworker, and Lou enjoyed painting wood items he made, in addition to sewing projects, making wreaths, and other crafts. Lou also loved to pray the Rosary often and attended Mass at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church. Kelly and Lou were both avid readers, frequently visiting the local public libraries in Pearl River and Slidell.

She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Kelly Goudeau Jr.; two children, Pamela Walker (and her husband Philip Walker) and James (Jim) Goudeau (and his wife Deborah Goudeau); three grandchildren, Angela Walker, Ryan Walker, and Jamie Goudeau Crawford (and her husband Keith Crawford); three step-grandsons, Phillip Dardar, Adam Dardar, and Stephen Michael Dardar; several step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She is predeceased by her parents Emanuel Chatelain and Nativa Chatelain; her four siblings, Elric Joseph Chatelain (and his wife Eloise Guillot Chatelain), Merlin Chatelain, Eloise Chatelain Brouillette (and her husband Heuter P. Brouillette), and Enith Chatelain Bonnette (and her husband Silton Bonnette); and step-grandson John Jay Dardar.

Lou will be remembered for the joy she spread to others. She will be deeply missed by all those lucky enough to know her. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the St. Tammany Library Foundation to support their local libraries.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Service at HONAKER FUNERAL HOME, 1751 GAUSE Blvd. WEST (IN FOREST LAWN CEMETERY), Slidell, LA on Friday, June 9, 2023, at 1:00 P.M.

Interment will follow in FOREST LAWN CEMETERY.

Visitation on Friday after 11:00 A.M. until funeral time.

Arrangements by Honaker Funeral Home, Inc., Slidell, LA.