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Luel McGhee Lodato
December 11, 1927 ~ August 16, 2021 (age 93) 93 Years Old
5 Trees or Condolences have been shared with support of Luel's family - View on Tribute Wall
Luel McGhee Lodato passed away on August 16, 2021 at the age of 93 in Mandeville, LA. Luel was born in Pine Prairie, LA, but lived most of her life in New Orleans East until August, 2005 when she and her husband, Frank Lodato, Sr. relocated to Covington, LA. Luel is preceded in death by her son, Frank Lodato, Jr.; her husband, Frank Lodato, Sr.; her sister Effie M. Cambre; her brother Luther Everett McGhee Sr. and her nephew Luther Everett McGhee Jr. She is survived by her two grandchildren Frank Lodato, III and Julie Lodato O’Day; her granddaughter-in-law Karen Knapper Lodato; and six great grandchildren Jackson Michael Knapper, Frank Jacob Lodato, Eva Angeline Lodato, Timothy Joseph Barrow, Luke Evan O’Day, Mary Violet Lodato, niece Ann Marie Koehl; her nephew James Lodato, III; daughter-in-law Peggy Daigle Harris, and Luel’s faithful companion in her final days, Rex Lodato (Shih Tzu).
Luel had a passion for horse racing and handicapping. From 1965-2005 she spent most of her time attending races at Evangeline Downs, Louisiana Downs, Jefferson Downs and the New Orleans Fair Grounds where she shared a box at the finish line with her good friend, Sadie Marcello. For decades their reserved space in the Fair Grounds grandstand was the “social paddock” for family, friends, jockeys’ wives, trainers and owners as they attended the races.
Luel also had a passion for cooking the French-Creole Cuisine from her childhood. Her culinary savvy along with her husband’s Sicilian influence inspired the Lodato Family Cookbook, a collection of family and friend’s recipes over their lifetime.
Public visitation will be held Saturday, August 21, 2021 at Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124 from 11:30-1:10pm with Catholic Mass beginning at 1:30pm. The jazz funeral procession and interment will immediately follow at Greenwood Cemetery.
If you’re attending the funeral please be mindful that the latest Orleans Parish mandate regarding COVID-19 will be enforced. The funeral service will be followed by a second line procession to the tomb. Bring your walking shoes, dancing shoes, walkers, wheelchairs, umbrellas, rags and whatever else you need to prance through the cemetery to mourn and celebrate the life of Honey. You may drive your car if you wish (The round trip walk is .5 miles).
To view the livestream of the words of remembrances and Mass on Saturday, August 21,2021at 1:15pm or to share condolences, stories and memories please visit the Greenwood Funeral Home Website at www.greenwoodfh.com.
Click here to view a webcast of the service on 8/21/2021 at 01:15 PM, Central Standard Time.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Luel McGhee Lodato, please visit our Tree Store.
Services
Visitation
Saturday August 21, 2021 11:30 AM to 1:10 PM Greenwood Funeral Home 5200 Canal Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124
Words of Remembrance
Saturday August 21, 2021 1:15 PM Greenwood Funeral Home Chapel 5200 Canal Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124
Catholic Mass
Saturday August 21, 2021 1:30 PM Greenwood Funeral Home Chapel 5200 Canal Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70124
Cemetery
Greenwood Cemetery 5190 Canal Blvd New Orleans, LA 70124