Abel Joseph Daigle

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Abel Joseph Daigle was born on May 28, 1916 in Plattenville, Louisiana, the 2nd of 10 children, to Jules Joseph Daigle and Regina Nola Aucoin Daigle. His family moved to Plaquemine, Louisiana when Abel was a small child. As a young man he served in the Army guarding German prisoners of war at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. In 1948 he married Janette Marie Babin and they lived for a short time in Brusly, Louisiana. In 1950 he took his small family and made the short trip back to Plaquemine, which he considered home. He and Janette had 3 children, Elizabeth Anne, Rae Marie and Abel Jr. The majority of his work career, 25 years, was spent at the Plaquemine Post Office. He lived with his daughters, who were devoted to his care, in Ethel, Louisiana during the last 5 years of his life. There, he passed away peacefully on the morning of February 17, 2014, surrounded by family. Abel loved his community and was involved in its betterment from early adulthood. Possessed of sharp mind and wit, he was never afraid to voice his opinion, take a stand or be a part of the work effort involved in making change. He was a fearless individualist, an activist's activist, a government watchdog (""I'm clocking 'em,"" he would often say) and a champion of the underprivileged. He needed no microphone at the hundreds of local, state and national governmental meetings that he attended and in which he participated so passionately. A nature lover, he was very active in environmental politics in the 80's and 90's. He was a jokester who still managed to get a laugh out of the very politicians he lampooned so frequently. As late as the 1990's, carrying large signs of his own unusual design and construct, you could still see Abel marching Plaquemine's streets for his causes. On August 1st of 1979, at the age of 63, Abel reached one of the most important milestones of his life when he achieved sobriety. He gave unstintingly of his time and sponsored many through the AA program always counseling members that it was never too late to make a change. Abel is survived by his daughters, Elizabeth Anne Avants and Rae Marie Daigle; daughter-in-law, Cindy Carline Daigle; sister, Joanne and husband Earl Leblanc; grandchildren, Joseph Avants, Patrick and wife Leslie Avants, Shauna and husband Mike Samson, Mary and Luke Avants; great-grandchildren, Eric Reason, Ben, Kynleigh, Evan and Ian Avants, Jackson and Lucas Samson. He had an extended family of 12 more grandchildren-in-spirit and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Corrine Daigle, Deeda Daigle and Mary Lou Traigle. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jeanette; son, Abel Joseph Daigle Jr.; brothers, Edward and wife Gertrude, Phillip, Bruce and Nolan Daigle; sisters and their husbands, Therese and John Businelle, Lee Lee and Tody Allain and former husband Earl Rivet, Cookie and Millard Allain and Mary Lee and Anthony Culotta; sister-in-law, Margaret and husband Mutt Dupuy and brothers-in-law, Bab and Wilferd Babin, and TJ Traigle. To the end, he was combative, engaging, larger-than-life and, as always, a charming lady's man. Abel was the epitome of the Good Christian Soldier. He taught his children to serve God and to treat their fellow man with dignity and respect. Visitation will be at Wilbert Funeral Home, Plaquemine on Wednesday, February 19, 2014 from 5 to 9pm and will resume on Thursday, February 20, 2014 from 9am until 1pm with Mass of Christian Burial at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church at 1:30pm, celebrated by Father Matt Lorrain. Interment will be at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Cemetery, Brusly. In lieu of flowers, please make Mass offerings or donations to St. John School. Please share sympathies, condolences, and memories online at www.wilbertservices.com. Arrangements with Wilbert Funeral Home of Plaquemine, (225) 687-1850. Published in The Advocate from Feb. 17 to Feb. 20, 2014