Mary Staub Rhoden

Mary Staub Rhoden, 93, took her first breath in heaven on September 27, 2023 surrounded by her loving family. She was born on September 30, 1929 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Harold W., Sr. and Thelma Webre Staub.

Mary grew up in the Irish Channel neighborhood of New Orleans. Having been a part of a large family of 7 children, she loved people. She was known mainly for loving her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and for loving her family. She spent hours each day in prayer and reading her Bible. When younger, she served as a lay minister of the Eucharist at Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church for many years.  She thrived when being together with her family, especially for special occasions and loved being with her extended family at Villa Maria Retirement Center. She was affectionately known as Mawmaw by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was known for showing hospitality to visitors and graciously offering a cold drink and snacks to all who came by. Some of her favorite things were cooking for family, the New Orleans Saints, playing Bingo and all sorts of games, dressing stylishly and candy.  

Mary graduated with honors from Redemptorist High School in New Orleans.  She met her husband, John Rhoden (Coleman) in 1951.  They fell in love and after only three dates, he proposed and they got married a month later. They were married for 50 years until John’s death.

Left to cherish her memory are, her children, John C. Rhoden, Jr. (Donna), David G. Rhoden (Wladia), Richard R. Rhoden (Jill) of Lake Charles, Patrick E. Rhoden (Shari) of Iowa, LA , Pamela R. Garrett (Larry) of Geismar, LA, and Rhonda R. Eloi (Fred) of Ball, LA; 13 grandchildren and step grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and numerous step and foster great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Eloise Rafferty of New Orleans and Betty Mack (George) of Lake Charles, LA; and her sisters-in-law, Diane Staub of Metarie, LA and Bonnie Rhoden Morgan of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, John C. Rhoden, Sr.; her parents; her brothers, Harold Staub, Father Eugene Staub, Richard Staub and Walter Staub; her daughter-in-law, Shirley Rhoden, as well as her brothers-in-law, John Rafferty, Cecil Rhoden, Robert Rhoden, Rupert Childre, “Smittie” Smith, Ralph Schultz and Don Morgan; and her sisters-in-law, Teresa Gaffney Staub, Terry Parenton Staub, Eva Mae Rhoden Childre, Mary Ruth Rhoden Smith, Jeanette Rhoden Schultz Dubose and Dorothy Staub Rhoden.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Monday, October 2, 2023 in Our Lady of Good Council Catholic Church. Msgr. Jace Eskind will serve as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will begin at 4:00 PM on Sunday evening at the funeral home and continue until 7:00 PM, with a rosary being recited at 6:00 PM. Visitation will resume on Monday morning at 8:30 AM and will continue until leaving in procession to the church at 9:30 AM.

The family would like to give special thanks to Becky See and her staff at Villa Maria Retirement Center who took such great care of their mom for the last 6 years. They loved Mary and she loved them. They would also like to thank the medical staff at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital and Doctor Eric Fontenot for their compassionate care during Mary’s illness.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana or St. Jude Children’s Hospital.