Angela Marie Governale Boudreaux, a former Blessed Seelos Center secretary and assistant, died on Thursday, June 21, 2001, at East Jefferson General Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana. She was the beloved wife of Melvin J. (Mel) Boudreaux of 51 years. Other survivors include daughters, Angela Boudreaux Campbell and Mary Boudreaux Staehle; sons, Andre Joseph and John Nicholas Boudreaux; brother, Nicholas Peter Governale, Jr.; six grandsons, one granddaughter, three nephews and two nieces.

As a lifelong volunteer for the Redemptorist order, Mrs. Boudreaux assisted in obtaining sample medication from many pharmaceutical companies to be shipped to various Redemptorist missions in Brazil in the early 1960’s. After her miraculous cure from terminal liver cancer in 1966, she worked as a volunteer and, for the last 17 years, was the secretary and assistant for the Blessed Francis Seelos Center in New Orleans. In April 2000, she and her husband went to Rome for the beatification ceremony of Fr. Francis Xavier Seelos. A reception was held at the villa of Vatican Ambassador, Corinne “Lindy” Boggs. She also had a meeting with Pope John Paul II. Over the years, she touched many lives all over the world with her ministry at the Blessed Seelos Center.

Mrs. Boudreaux was active in her community. She was chairperson of the Optimist International’s lady’s luncheon in 1983, a long-time member of the Gretna Homemaker’s Club, a member of the Gretna Historical Society, a substitute teacher and CCE teacher at St. Rosalie Catholic School in Harvey, held several offices with the St. Anthony PTA in Gretna, LA, served as committee chairperson and fundraiser for the Center of Our Lord Jesus that fed the homeless, worked for the Westbank Welcome Wagon organization, was involved in Spring Fiesta, Germaine Wells’ Easter Parade and was a former member of the Krewe of Noblades. Additionally, the Business and Professional Women’s Association awarded her Woman of the Year in 1985.

The funeral mass was held at St. Mary’s Assumption Catholic Church in the Irish Channel on Tuesday, June 26, 2001 at 11:30 a.m. with Reverend Joseph Elworthy, C.Ss.R., as the main celebrant. In lieu of flowers, the Boudreaux family has requested that donations in memory of Angela Boudreaux be made to the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Seelos, 2030 Constance Street, New Orleans, LA 70130.