Ann Gondrella Chance

A visitation in Lafayette will be observed for Ann Gondrella Chance, 76 on Sunday, December 27, 2020 in Martin & Castille's SOUTHSIDE location, 600 East Farrel, Lafayette, LA 70508 from 1:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Ann passed away on Thursday, December 24, 2020 at her residence in Lafayette surrounded by her loving family.

A visitation in New Orleans will be observed Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Holy Name of Mary Church, 400 Verret St., New Orleans, LA 70114 from 9:00 A.M. until time of the service.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, December 29, 2020 at Holy Name of Mary Church, 400 Verret St., New Orleans, LA 70114.

Interment will be in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Gretna, Louisiana

Deacon Terry Manieri will conduct the funeral services.

In order to help keep the community safe we will honor the July 13, 2020 Louisiana Mandates. All families and their guests are required to wear a face covering and maintain social distancing at the funeral home, church, and cemetery. Thank you for understanding during this unprecedented time.

For family members and friends who are unable to attend on Tuesday, December 29, 2020, at 1:00 PM, the service will be live-streamed to a Memorial Facebook Group dedicated to Ann Gondrella Chance. To join the group, click the link below and then "join group". The video will appear on this group at service time 1:00 PM. You may also share memories, pictures and condolences to the family in this group.

Facebook link: www.facebook.com/groups/anngondrellachance/ < http://www.facebook.com/groups/anngondrellachance/ >

Survivors include her beloved husband of 56 years, William Kelly Chance, Sr. of Lafayette; two daughters, Donna Chance Hall and her husband, Winston of Shreveport and Stacey Chance Patin and her husband, Jonathan of Lafayette; one granddaughter, Erin Patin of Lafayette; two sisters, Pearl Mann and Jackie Gondrella; one brother, Peter Gondrella, Jr. and numerous extended family members including her nieces, nephews and her beloved grand nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her son, William Kelly “K.C.” Chance, Jr.; parents, Peter and Pearl Gondrella; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Geneva and Norris Chance; three sisters, Grace Gondrella, Connie Gondrella Glantzberg and Betty Gondrella Catalanotto.
Ann Marie Gondrella Chance was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on May 10, 1944. She was the 5th of 7 children born to Peter and Pearl Gondrella. There were six girls and one boy, and they loved growing up together in Algiers. She attended junior high and high school at Martin Behrman in Algiers where she was involved in activities like cheerleading, Girl’s State, and many other extracurricular activities. Ann also won the American Legion Award at her graduation in 1962. She met a handsome basketball player named Kelly Chance while in 7th grade. They became high school sweethearts and later got married on February 8, 1964. Ann and Kelly moved to Ruston, Louisiana where their two daughters Donna and Stacey were born. In 1968, they returned home to New Orleans where both of their families lived.

Ann began teaching speech and drama at Arden Cahill Academy in New Orleans in 1968 and returned to school to get her Bachelor of Science degree in early childhood education at Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans. She graduated cum laude when her son K.C. was only three days old. She taught at Arden Cahill for 32 years and during that time she produced and directed hundreds and hundreds of plays and musicals, coordinated speech festivals, collected gifts for needy families at Christmas as part of the Giving Tree, was the Student Council Moderator, helped start the first Athletic Association, was a true fan of the Big Blue Fighting Whales, developed the first PTL at Cahill, took students on amazing school trips and history tours, and encouraged her students every day with her passion for public speaking. She expected the best out of them and helped them realize their best selves.

Ann received the George Washington Medal of Honor by the Freedom’s Foundation at Valley Forge. The award honors teachers and administrators who go above and beyond the call of duty for their students and America’s youth. These educators also instill in their students a sense of importance of community involvement, responsible citizenship, and patriotism. Ann and Kelly lost their only son K.C in 1999 and Ann decided to retire. She and Kelly moved to Lafayette to be near their only grandchild, Erin, who was the absolute apple of her eye. When she retired from Arden Cahill Academy, her lifelong friend, mentor, and principal, Mrs. Arden Cahill, renamed the theater the Ann Chance Theater for Children and it was one of her greatest honors.

After moving to Lafayette, she missed teaching and her students, so she began teaching public speaking and drama at Ascension Episcopal School. She taught middle school and then later high school. She committed herself to Ascension for 14 more years. She directed many musicals, started the Speech and Debate Team, and taught hundreds of students in her after school classes, known as the A.C.T. classes (Ann Chance Theater classes). Ann was one of Ascension’s biggest fans, cheering on her students to hundreds and hundreds of victories over the years. She was a true Blue Gator Super Fan!

In May of 2014, she directed her last musical performance, and it was appropriately “Last Chance High”. She retired after 46 years of teaching, and the impact she left behind was powerful and everlasting. She loved each of her students as if they were her own children, and they carry her life lessons and teachings with them always.

Ann was a lover of life and she lived life to the fullest every day. She loved traveling and she traveled extensively with her students and also with her sister Jackie. She had visited many foreign countries including London, France, Spain, Croatia, Czech Republic, Canada, Mexico, Italy and many others. She had traveled to all 50 states and was always looking forward to her next adventure. She loved quilting and shopping; she had an extensive Pinocchio collection from her time working at the Pinocchio shop at the 1984 World’s Fair in New Orleans. Ann was a member of Women for a Better Louisiana and actively and proudly registered young voters each year. Ann loved Mardi Gras and was a member of the Krewe of Iris in New Orleans for 30 years. She was a die-hard New Orleans Saints fan and a season ticket holder for the Ragin’ Cajuns in Lafayette for many years.

Ann will be missed by anyone that had the pleasure of knowing her and loving her. She never knew a stranger and she would lend a hand to anyone in need. Her heart had the greatest capacity for love and that makes the loss of her so much greater. She made every person she met feel like they were the most important person to her and that endeared her to thousands and thousands of students, teachers, friends, and family over the years. Her legacy will live on in every life that she touched.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to any of the following in the name of Mrs. Ann Chance:Arden Cahill Academy - Theatre Department 3101 Wall Blvd. Gretna, LA 70056; Ascension Episcopal School's Fine Arts Alliance or Booster Club 1030 Johnston Street Lafayette, LA 70501; or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.

Thank you to all of our friends and family who have loved and supported Ann throughout her life. We are eternally grateful.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com

Martin & Castille-SOUTHSIDE, 600 East Farrel Road, Lafayette, LA 70508, 337-984-2811