Ethelee Morgan

Ethelee Lucille Gagliano Morgan died peacefully in her home in Abita Springs, Louisiana at 10:14 PM on March 21, 2018 at the age of 82.

Ethelee is survived by her children Felicia Morgan Trapani, Cynthia Morgan D’Atrio, and Erica Morgan Dufrene; twin sister Shirlee Gagliano Vale; brother Felix V. Gagliano, Jr.; sons-in-law Darrin Trapani and Vincent D’Atrio; grandchildren Grace Dufrene, Rose Dufrene, Andrew Dufrene, and Leah Dufrene; niece Sharon Vale Latino and family; nephew Louis W. Vale, IV and family; nephews Eugene Gagliano, David Gagliano, Marc Gagliano, and families; and niece Ellen Gagliano Leonard and family. She is also survived by her former husband, Robert N. Morgan. She is preceded in death by her mother Agnes Lemay Gagliano; father Felix V. Gagliano, Sr.; sister M. M. Gagliano; brother-in-law Louis W. Vale, III; and sister-in-law Pauline Heinberg Gagliano.

Ethelee was born on August 7, 1935 in New Orleans, Louisiana. She graduated from Fortier Senior High School in 1953 and from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1957 with a degree in education. Ethelee was talented in music, dance, and art. She was the concert mistress (first chair violinist) of the Southeastern orchestra and a ballet master. Ethelee and her twin sister Shirlee were known during their school years as the “Gagliano Twins” and they performed often in theatrical productions. After college, Ethelee embarked on a career as an educator and taught at New Orleans area public schools including Joseph Kohn Junior High, Gregory Junior High, and Warren Easton Senior High before her retirement in 2001. She was an award-winning ceramicist, active in the New Orleans Ceramic Society. In 1985, Ethelee moved to Abita Springs, Louisiana, where she lived the rest of her life.

After her retirement, Ethelee turned her creative talents toward an expression of her Catholic faith, writing religious icons. She created dozens of the prayerful artworks and, ever the educator, she taught the technique of writing icons to hundreds of students. Although accomplished in the arts, Ethelee was first and foremost a devout Catholic. She attended daily Mass at St. Jane de Chantal Catholic Church in Abita Springs, was an active member of the Confraternity of The Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph, a Spiritual Child of Padre Pio, and a Benedictine Oblate. In recognition of her devotion to her faith and work in St. Jane Parish, she was honored to receive the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion from the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of New Orleans in 2015. Always passionate about art, Ethelee was most devoted to her family and her faith.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 26, 2018 at St. Jane de Chantal Church, 72040 Maple Street, Abita Springs, LA 70420. A funeral Mass will begin at 12:00 noon. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Abbey, 75376 River St., St. Benedict, LA 70457. Father Kenneth Allen will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests Masses in her memory and/or donations to the Center for Padre Pio (http://www.padrepio.org), St. Jane de Chantal Church, or Notre Dame Hospice (http://notredamehospice-no.org).  Condolences can be sent to WWW.bagnellfuneralhome.com