Marie Elise Lege Donohue

Abbeville --Marie Elise Lege Donohue, born January 29, 1924, peacefully left this earth with all of God’s blessings on March 25, 2020. “Meezie” or “Momeeze” to all family, friends and their friends, was a lifelong resident of Abbeville, Louisiana. She was predeceased by the love of her life, John Paul Donohue, Sr. “Papa John,” her husband of 55 years, her loving parents, Lilia Elise “Nancy” Landry and Murphy Joseph “Pat” Lege, and her beloved grandson, Patrick Lege Donohue, Jr. For one who set the bar so high for The Donohue Family, Meezie was a woman of faith, love, and commitment, whose greatest joy in life was raising and caring for her loving family. Meezie lived life to the fullest and always enjoyed celebrating and gathering with family and friends at her lifelong home, “Portage Landing,” a National Register of Historical Places by the United States Department of the Interior circa 1869.

Survived by her seven children, Patricia D. McIntyre (Reginald), Hammond, Elizabeth D. Gary (John), N. Palm Beach, FL, John P. Donohue, Jr. (Lory), Houma, Patrick L. Donohue (Rebecca), Abbeville, Daniel J. Donohue, Lafayette, James C. Donohue (Susan), Baton Rouge, and Elise D. Kuhn (Allen), New Orleans; 14 grandchildren: Courtney M. Buras, Reginald J. McIntyre, Jr. (Amy), Margaret Erin M. Van Ryckeghem, Patricia Elise M. Plantan (Neil), Lege G. Hogan (Bobby), Shannon G. Mendes (Blair), Wesleigh G. Stewart (Chris), John P. Donohue III, Megan D. Breaux (Matthew), Colleen D. Foreman (Kristopher), James C. Donohue, Riley E. Donohue, Allen M. Kuhn, and Lilla E. Kuhn; and 21 great-grandchildren: Landry Werth, Camille Werth, Beau Werth, Evie Van Ryckeghem, Reg McIntyre III, Colin McIntyre, Ryland McIntyre, Evie Van Ryckeghem, Elise Plantan, Ellie Hogan, Trace Hogan, Campbell Hogan, Wes Mendes, Brooks Mendes, Cooper Stewart, Banks Stewart, Mozelle Stewart, Abbey Donohue, Ella Donohue, Claire Breaux and James Breaux.

Meezie graduated from SLI in 1944, where she met her future husband, John, a native of Dallas, TX, who was stationed in Lafayette, LA, for Naval training exercises in preparation for WWII. They immediately fell in love and were married in 1944, and thereafter, began their lifelong journey of raising seven wonderful children. She was active in numerous community activities: the Catholic Daughters of America, Ladies Altar Society, charter member of the Fortnightly Club of Abbeville, as well as the Abbeville Garden and Bridge Club. She lived to entertain, loved to travel, and frequented the theater and the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra. As a devout Roman Catholic and lifelong parishioner of St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, she was determined for her family to follow in her footsteps of attending and participating in weekly mass. In furtherance of her faith, Meezie embarked on multiple pilgrimages to Rome, the Holy Land, and the Marian Shrines of Lourdes and Medjugorje. We will all miss her loving, contagious, warm spirit and charm that was felt by all. Her entire family is comforted in the fact that she is now at rest in peace with her heavenly father, and reunited with her beloved Papa John.

The Donohue Family is grateful for Meezie’s compassionate caregivers: Peggy Viator, Trinda Derouen, Anita Hopkins, and Martha Leger. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Vermillion Catholic High School.

Private Graveside Services were held by the family and officiated by longtime family friend, Father F. Hampton Davis.