Mary "Laura" Gaspard

Abbeville— A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 6, 2023, at St. Mary Magdalen Church honoring the life of Mary “Laura” Hargrave Gaspard, 89, who passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2023. She will be laid to rest at St. Mary Magdalen Cemetery with Father Louis Richard officiating the services.

Laura was born in Vermilion Parish and attended school in Abbeville. She is a graduate of Abbeville High School, class of 1951. Laura was the Secretary of her class and participated in both the basketball and softball teams. She attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now known as University of Louisiana at Lafayette). Laura graduated Summa Cum Lauda and was Historian of the Liberal Arts College. She was a recipient of the International Scholarship to University of Paris (Sorbonne) for French Studies.

Laura taught English and French under the Vermilion Parish School Board system and taught at Henry High School, Erath High School, Abbeville High School, and Vermilion Catholic High School.  She was Co-creator with the Rotary Club of the “What I Want to Be and Why” essay. She was also Graduation Coordinator at Abbeville High School, as well as the head of the English Department for all Vermilion Parish schools. Laura was a member of the Retired Teachers Association. She loved teaching and even more so her students and had many fond memories of the students she taught throughout the years. To many of her students she was one of their favorites.

Laura was very involved with St. Mary Magdalen Church in Abbeville and was a member and Secretary of the Catholic Daughters. She also taught the Lay Carmelite classes to her fellow parishioners. Her faith was admirable and her dedication to Our Mother Mary was endearing. She traveled to Lourdes, France, to keep a promise to Our Mother Mary for blessings received.

In her retirement, Laura enjoyed spending her time with her family, traveling, and teaching her grandchildren and great grandchildren to sing a few songs in French. She also was editor for the publication “The Sword”.

Laura is survived by her two daughters, Anne Gaspard and Claire G. Broussard; grandchildren, Karen and husband, Alan Haney and their children, Alaina Hamlett and Evelyn, Jerrod Broussard and wife, Katelyn and their children, Russell, Trey, Charlotte, and Emilia, Kirsten and husband, Rixey Broussard and their son, Hayes, and Jude and husband, Lee LaBry.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Medius and Effie Hargrave; brother, Wilfred Lee Hargrave; husband, Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court - Russell Gaspard; infant son, Richard Neil; son, Russell “Rusty” Charles Gaspard; and son-in-law, Daniel Broussard.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville, on Friday, January 6, 2023 from 9:30 AM until time of services. A rosary being prayed at 10:30 AM.

The family would like to thank Laura’s caregivers from Vermilion Healthcare Center and her nurse, Whitney from Hospice of Acadiana; and Veronica Bourque, Jackie Theall, Connie Scalisi, and Vanessa Hebert for their love and care of Laura and family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Sisters of Mount Carmel or to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St.
Lafayette, LA 70503.