Theophile Haydel Jr. Obituary (1961 - 2023)

A band of angels carried Theophile Haydel, Jr. to his eternal home on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. T.J. was the fourth child born to the union of the late Theophile Haydel, Sr. and Priscilla Allen Haydel on December 11, 1961. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, where he served diligently as an usher. T.J. was a native of Wallace, Louisiana and lived most of his adult life in Laplace. Theophile was known to family and friends as "T.J." . .."Cho". . . or "Theo." T.J. was the devoted husband of Dwan Dennis Haydel. He was a loving father to Jada Keyon Haydel and Jalen Thomas Haydel. He was also the grandfather of Kevin LaDay, Jr. T.J. was a proud 1979 graduate of West St. John High School in Edgar, Louisiana. He was a faithful member of the Wallace Indians and believed in serving his community. He participated in numerous community events such as: assisting in building bonfires for Christmas Eve, cooking and serving food at community events and helping to distribute toys during the Annual Toy Drive for kids. First and foremost, T.J. was a family man. He loved his family. Thanksgiving at T.J. and Dwan's house was a big family event. There would be endless food and he made sure that everyone felt right at home. T.J. made the best potato salad which everyone craved and he made good gumbo but it was always spicy!! As in hot, hot, hot!! T.J. was always the life of the party whether he was playing cards, watching football, boiling seafood, or frying fish, T.J. was a character. In addition to his family, T.J. loved the Philadelphia Eagles. Whenever the Eagles played, you would find him dressed in his favorite Eagles jersey or shirt and his Eagles cap or hat, cheering his team on to victory. T. J. loved people and he had a great BIG heart. He and Dwan took care of Dwan's ailing mother until she went home to Glory. Then a few years later, they took T.J.'s ailing mother into their home and cared for her until she transitioned to the Lord. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, T.J. went to the New Orleans Convention Center, despite warnings not to go into the city, to pick up relatives and friends that were stranded there. During the months that followed Hurricane Katrina, T. J. and Dwan opened their home to more than thirty relatives and friends who were displaced because of the storm. Never turning anyone away and always offering hot meals, hot baths, and somewhere to lay their heads for however long they needed to stay. T.J. also helped his relatives in New Orleans toss furniture and remove sheet rock from their homes. He refused to take a dime for his services. After Hurricane Ida, T.J. could be found throughout Laplace helping neighbors to clean up, cutting down trees and doing whatever needed to be done to help someone else. T.J.'s heart was BIG and made of gold. T.J. worked in various plants to provide for his family until his health began to fail this past December. Left to cherish his memories are his devoted wife of 39 years, Dwan; his two children, Jada and Jalen and his grandson Kevin; his brothers, Patrick J. Haydel (Antoinette) and Terrence J. Haydel (Andrea); his sisters, Connie Louis (Clarence), Yvette Joseph (Charles), Donalyn McCall (Sherman Sr.), Rose A. Haydel (Cleveland), and Leslie Wallace (Christopher); aunts, Marian A. Bailey (Prescott), OraLee Ferchaud, Gloria Haydel, Mary A. Burrell, Linda Pierce (Alcus); brother-in-law, Craig Kevin Dennis (Tika); sister-in-law Gail Dennis; Godparents, Katherine Harris Cook and Prescott Bailey; Godchildren, Sherman McCall, Jr. (Maya) and Gabriel A. Haydel, Jr.; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and a host of cousins and friends. T.J. was predeceased by his parents, Theophile and Priscilla Haydel; brother, Gabriel Haydel, Sr.; nephews, Shavis McCall and Devin Louis; father and mother-in-law, Wilfred, Sr. and Irma J. Dennis; brother-in-law, Wilfred Dennis, Jr., and a host of other aunts, uncles and cousins. Relatives, friends, coworkers, West St John Class of 1979 and The Wallace Indians are invited to attend a Mss of Christian Burial on Saturday, March 4, 2023 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 772 Hwy. 44, Reserve, LA 70084, Rev. Godwin Ani, S.S.J., Celebrant. Visitation beginning at 8:15 am. Rosary at 9:15 am. Mass beginning at 10am. Interment at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church Cemetery, 13281 Highway 644, Vacherie, LA 70090. Final care and professional services entrusted to Treasures of Life Funeral Services. "When someone you love becomes a memory, that memory becomes a TREASURE!!"