Daria Durel Kathmann Chaney

On December 7, 2019, Daria Durel Kathmann Chaney gave cancer a final kick and flew to the arms of the God she served so well. She died as she lived: without a complaint, surrounded by those she loved, and filled with more concern for those around her than herself.

Born in November, 1962 in New Orleans, Louisiana, the city she loved her entire life, Daria was the daughter of Dr. Milford Kathmann (deceased) and Ruth Kathmann and the older sister of Erich Kathmann. A brilliant and quick mind from the very beginning, Daria would attend and graduate from Ursuline Academy for elementary school and Benjamin Franklin High School–back when it was located at the old Carrollton Courthouse. Her “real” education, however, would come growing up in New Orleans, running around with all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins (of which she had no shortage), developing her jovial and infectious laugh that punctuated every conversation and room she entered, and falling in love with the music, the dancing in the street, and the joie de vivre of the carnival season and especially the Krewe of Carrollton.

Taking a short, but important, detour from the New Orleans area, Daria attended and graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi on a scholarship. While there, during “study sessions” over pitchers of beer and plates of fried pickles, Daria fell in love with the center and joy of her life, (the future) Dr. Mark Stephen Chaney, originally from Tupelo, Mississippi. They married in October, 1989, and settled in Mandeville, Louisiana, where they raised their three children: Christian, Nicholas, and Ericha. Daria devoted her entire life and being towards ensuring the happiness and growth of her children, serving countless hours on a number of boards and committees at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church and School, St. Paul’s School, and St. Scholastica Academy.

Daria was the embodiment of selflessness and a fountain of creativity, spending countless hours putting her innumerable talents to use cooking and crafting for everyone her in life. And, when breast cancer came calling, she doubled down on her virtues and met that challenge with unmatched dignity and always with courage and laughter. She was grateful for the support of her family and friends. The family thanks Dr. Greg Bizette, Nurse Robin, and her new friend Michelle, her hospice nurse.

Daria has gone ahead to crochet a ladder to heaven not only for her immediate family but also for her “other parents” Robert and Sue Chaney; her in-laws Monica Tisack Kathmann, Tim and Sharon Chaney, and Theresa and Harvey Bailey and their families; her soon to be in-laws Christopher Wiebelt and Rachel McNeil and their families; and her many aunts, uncles, cousins and their families. Deepest gratitude goes to her forever friends, Charisse Saucier and Rhonda Robicheaux, with whom she laughed and cried through good times and bad.

Family and friends are invited to attend the Funeral Mass at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mandeville, Louisiana on Saturday, December 14, 2019 at one o’clock in the afternoon. Visitation will begin at 10:30 at the church and continue until Mass. Interment will follow at St. Lazarus of Bethany Memorial garden cemetery Covington, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to The Samaritan Center, Inc. 402 Girod St., Mandeville, Louisiana, 70448 or another charity of your choice.

Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.gracenorthshore.com