Judith Ann Ognibene

Abbeville—A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Judith Ann LaHaye Ognibene, 74, who died Sunday, March 10, 2019 at Abbeville General Hospital. She will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery with Reverend Louis Richard officiating the services.

Judith was born in Leonville, LA. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. She met the love of her life, Gerald, on a blind date in college and married him on the same day she graduated. Gerald and Judith worked side by side in Frank’s Drive In, in Abbeville, from 1967 until they retired in 2005. She was a loving wife and a devoted mom to her children and her animal children. Judith loved, played, and shared the joy of beautiful music with her family. She was a from-scratch cook and a skilled seamstress. During her retirement, she enjoyed growing green things from the earth and refining her sewing skills, creating one-of-a-kind monogrammed prayer blankets and other garments. Though Judith preferred to create new things than repair with her sewing, she made torn altar cloths and vestments new again in service to God as a member of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church Altar Society. She also coordinated a neighborhood rosary group and Bible study discussions. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Judith is survived by her husband of 51 years, Gerald W. Ognibene; son, Jude Ognibene of Dallas, TX; daughter, Michelle Zagar and her husband, Todd of Monroe, LA; and three brothers, retired Judge Joseph LaHaye of Leonville; Dr. Thomas LaHaye of Eunice, and Dr. Philip LaHaye of Shreveport.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph LaHaye and the former Gladys Bacque.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Abbeville, 209 S. St. Charles St., on Tuesday, March 12, 2019 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 7:00 PM; Wednesday, March 13, 2019 from 8:00 AM until 10:15 AM when the procession will depart for the church.