Mary Jane Abate Vaughn

Mary Jane Abate Vaughn, 92, of Moss Bluff passed away Saturday, September 23, 2023 in the comfort of her home.

Mrs. Vaughn was a native of Lake Charles and a lifelong resident of the Lake area.  She was a 1948 graduate of Lake Charles High School where she was a Kiltie and obtained an associate degree in Secretarial Science from  McNeese State University.  She utilized her degree as a secretary and bookkeeper at Swift Packing Plant and as a homemaker kept a perfect ledger.  Mrs. Vaughn met her sweetheart, Stanley (an employee) at Abate’s Grocery, her father’s store.  They married in 1953, began their life of happily ever after and six years later welcomed their first-born child.  She loved to cook spaghetti, ox tail and Muscovy duck gravy being amongst many of her best dishes.  She was also a talented seamstress, having made cloths for her children and grandchildren.  During her later years she enjoyed vegetable gardening.  She was an admirable lady of faith and prayer, an active member of Our Lady Queen of Heaven and St. Theordore Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, Ladies Alter Society, Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and Parish Counsil and was an instrumental leader of St. Joseph’s Table.  She was  proud of her Italian heritage, of traditional values with meticulous, often quirky idiosyncrasies, but always generous, humble and kind.  Mrs. Vaughn devoted her life, her love and loyalty to her family and the Lord our God.  

She leaves to cherish her memory, three children, Felicia Vaughn Coleman and her husband Steve of Bell City, Theresa Vaughn Kjerulff and her husband Steve of Sweetlake and Robert Stanley Vaughn of Moss Bluff; two granddaughters, Diana Coleman Vinson of Bell City and Gabrielle Brianna Vaughn of Manhattan, NY; two great grandsons, Bryce Joseph Conner and wife Baleigh of Welsh and Owen Scott Conner of New Orleans and two great- great grandsons, Stetson Winn Conner and Sterling Wade Conner of Welsh.

She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-four years, Stanley E. Vaughn; a grandson, Stephen Elliott Coleman and her parents, Anthony Joseph Abate  and Felicie Calloura Abate.

The family of Mrs. Vaughn wishes to extend heartfelt thanks to nurses, Anne Marie Berry and Emily Zenon for their excellence in care and compassion and their overwhelming kindness in caring for their mother and her family throughout this time.

A Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 AM Wednesday, September 27, 2023 at St. Theodore Catholic Church under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles.  Father Aubrey Guilbeau will officiate.  Interment will follow in Consolata Cemetery.  Visitation Tuesday will be from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a Rosary service at 6:00 PM.  Visitation Wednesday will be from 8:00 AM until 9:00 AM in the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the c/o Catholic Daughters of St. Theodore Catholic Church for St. Josephs Table, P.O. Box 12726, Lake Charles, LA 70612.