THE GREATEST SHOW FOR ROSALIE ABADIE

After 27 years of sharing her fine arts experience, passion, and bountiful talent at St. Mary’s Dominican High School, Rosalie Abadie retired in May 2022. Her joy was infectious, her walk was commanding, her talent was endless. Her creativity from the classroom to the stage expanded fine arts at Dominican and touched generations of students.

Born in Thibodaux, LA, Rosalie Abadie was six when her parents leased a 45-room hotel with a restaurant. Her father, formerly an accountant for a lumber yard, managed the hotel and her mother handled all the meals. For Rosalie it was a charmed life, meeting guests and welcoming an extended family of the hotel staff. “When I learned about Santa Claus, I was in the kitchen crying along with the staff. We were family,” she recalled.

Grades first through 12th, she was a student at Mt. Carmel in Thibodaux, then the only Catholic school in the area. Rosalie credits the sisters for laying the foundation for her career in art and education, especially Sr. Margaret Mary, O. Carm., “who guided me into the arts in 1959,” she said.

Rosalie enrolled at University of Louisiana at Lafayette (formerly University of Southwestern Louisiana) and declared a double major in art and dance. The fact she never had an art class before, was not a deterrent. When she had to present her dance final before a faculty jury, she asked the Music Department chair to write the music. Rosalie said, “Each dance movement was a color and a different set of notes. The performance was a kaleidoscope.”

She was a student assistant in the university’s Dance Department, graduated in 1964, and served as Department Head while the chairperson was on sabbatical. Active in the Catholic Center Newman Club, she participated in the first Newman Mission of six weeks in Balmorea, TX, and was the club’s first female president.

Four years later, she and a friend opened Studio of Arts, a dance and art studio that they operated for seven years in the Lafayette area. A new opportunity brought Rosalie and family to New Orleans. After the birth of her fifth child, she stayed home for five years and was a part time substitute teacher at St. Cletus Elementary School. “The Marianite principal, Sr. Audrey Ruth, M.S.C., asked me to teach religion. I was certified through the Archdiocese and was later published in the Sadlier Religion Series Grade 6 Teachers Manual.” During her 11 years at St. Cletus, she taught Kindergarten through the 8th grade, was Department Head of Religion and Enrichment, started Friday enrichment afternoons dedicated to artistic activities, began a Liturgical Dance Group, directed grade level themed Masses every Friday, created the first Art Festival, coordinated Speech Tournaments, Passion Plays, Mission Club, and 7th and 8th grade plays.

In 1995, Rosalie was hired by then St. Mary’s Dominican High School Principal Dr. Cynthia A. Thomas who tasked her with the mission to institute an arts program. “Sr. Savio was school President at the time and over the years she and Sr. Angeline have been extremely supportive. I started with one class of Fine Arts Survey and Art I; added Drama Club and a Christmas play, then our first musical, The Butler Did It Singing. Sr. Ambrose was my first mentor and the Stage Manager and Curtain Puller. Pat Blanchard led me into expanding the Rosary and Lenten Experience,” recounted

Rosalie. “Art grew early, with addition of another art teacher and more over the years. We now have four art teachers teaching Fine Arts Survey, Art I, II, III, Art II Honors, Art III Advanced Placement, and Graphics. For several years, we have participated in the Archdiocese of New Orleans art shows at Lakeside Shopping Center plus Drama Club performances there, at Celebration in the Oaks, Parents Club meetings, and for incoming students.

Rosalie formed Drama Club in 1995 and she along with Brenda Castillo and Marcia Peyton, presented 25 two-act musicals, the club’s yearly presentation of Instant Theatre, the Living Rosary for students and grandparents, and the Lenten Assembly. As Dominican’s Summer Camp, DominiCamp, grew for girls entering 5th grade, Camp Director Meg Womble asked Rosalie to form a summer group for younger children. Rosalie developed various group activities and called it Jumpin’ for Joy.

In 2008, Rosalie participated in the 100 People Foundation project, If New Orleans were 100 People – a series of short films celebrating the students and local communities of New Orleans through their artwork and essays. Being a teacher, a storyteller, and a cheerleader have brought tremendous joy to Rosalie who also is the mother of five and grandmother of ten. Safely tucked away, she has kept all the notes from students who wrote to her at the end of each school year. “And it is not about me. It is what they got out of the class, the play or project,” she said. Every time she reconnects with a student, the moment is special. “I was in New York, had just come from the subway and was at Times Square when I hear someone calling, Miss Abadie. I turn around and it is one of my former students. In New York! How special is that!”

In her farewell address to colleagues, Rosalie called Dominican, “The greatest show. As a child, I loved going to the circus. It was wonderful, breathtaking, and exciting. You couldn’t wait to see what would come next. You couldn’t wait to go back again. In my imaginary world, St. Mary’s Dominican has been my circus. Every day is different and exciting, and you never know what will happen next.

“I am in awe of all of you and I thank you for wonderful memories and special friendships…I admire you all so much for what you do and for what we have accomplished. I have a little thumbs up trophy as a reminder of what we accomplished together. WE DID IT!!! And, if you start feeling overwhelmed, put on one of these (holding a clown’s signature red nose) and have a good laugh! Love you all! Thanks for the memories.”