Rita Gipson Gabel

A retired Audubon Elementary school teacher and former longtime resident of Baton Rouge, she died at 10:06 a.m. Sunday, March 1, 2009, at Ochsner Medical Center. She was 84, a native of Memphis, Tenn., and a resident of Denham Springs. Visiting at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Tuesday, March 3, was from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., with recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. Visiting will resume at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Denham Springs, on Wednesday, March 4, from 9:30 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Vincent J. Dufresne, celebrant. Entombment in Greenoaks Memorial Park, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge. She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Carolyn and C.J. Bergeron and Janie and Robert Barnes; two sons and daughters-in-law, John and Catherine W. Gabel and Thomas and Carol Gabel; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Edith and Bob Taylor and Judy and Robert Didier; two brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Audrey Gipson and John "Butch" and Barbara Gipson; grandchildren, Frank McLaurin and wife Nicole, Matthew McLaurin, Michelle Calvaruso and husband Kenny, Neal Barnes and wife Kim, Ben Barnes and wife Jessica, David Gabel and wife Brandy, JoAnne Cummings and husband Rick, Tom Gabel and wife Denise, Beth Casagrand and husband Jim, and Louie Yu; great-grandchildren, Ashlan, Lauren, Emilea, Marisa, Kallie, Mason, Landon, Brooke, Alex, Jack and Cate. Preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, John Phillip Gabel, on Dec. 31, 2000; parents, Andrew and Edris George Gipson; grandson, Staff Sgt. Michael Gabel, U.S. Army; and sister, Mary Agnes Beatty. Her grandsons will be pallbearers. She was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary and Kappa Kappa Iota national teachers sorority. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to Hospice of Baton Rouge.