Melba Guillory Chaplain

Melba Guillory Chaplain passed away peacefully on November 9, 2022, at the age of 94. She was born on November 30, 1927, in Elton, Louisiana to the late Stephen and Edna Lange Guillory. She was the youngest of their 4 children. Melba graduated from Charity Nursing School in 1948 as a pediatric nurse and retired from Charity Hospital in 1991. Melba and Leon A. Chaplain, Jr. were married for 45 years; and raised their large family in their Lakeview home. She was a parishioner of St. Dominic parish for over 50 years and then moved to St. Benilde parish for the past 16 years. She was preceded in death by her husband Leon A. Chaplain, Jr., daughters; Theresa Chaplain Martin and Annette Chaplain Rasnic, grandsons; Zachary Rasnic, and Joseph (Joey) H. Dullary, Jr., son-in-law Jefferson B. Martin, Sr., brother Carl Guillory (Eura Mae), and sisters; Audrey G. Davis (Merlin) and Meriam G. LeBlanc (Wilton).

Melba leaves behind her children Mary Chaplain Goertz (Bobby), Leon (Doody) A. Chaplain, III (Lynne), Rosary Chaplain Papania (Jay), Beth Chaplain Dullary (Joe), Louis E. Chaplain (Alaine), and Margaret Chaplain Matherne (Jeffery), son in law William Rasnic (Bill). She also leaves behind her grandchildren; Jeff Martin, Jr. (Jodie), Ashley Martin, Robbie Goertz (Janette), Rhett Goertz (Jayne), Heather Chaplain LaBauve (Albert/Bubby), Laurie Chaplain Herrmann (Mike), Joey Papania, (Kelly), Jeremy Papania, Jared Papania (Danielle), Josh Papania (Rachel), Joel Dullary, Heather Dullary Conners (Louis), Jordan Rasnic, Brandon Rasnic, Alyssa Chaplain, Benjamin Chaplain, and Bayleigh Matherne, as well as her 27 great-grandchildren.

Melba loved and enjoyed her family. Having a house filled with people never bothered her…everyone was welcomed. She could be seen at many sporting events cheering for her children, grandchildren even her great-grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 Canal Blvd, New Orleans, on Monday, November 21, 2022, starting at 11:00 AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in the Chapel at 1:00 PM. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery.

To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Melba Guillory Chaplain, please visit our Tree Store.