Katherine Elizabeth Phelan Carmody, 93, a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, passed away at home on November 2, 2026 ~ All Souls’ Day ~ surrounded by her children.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church. A private family interment will follow at Forest Park Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in the narthex with a rosary following.

Mrs. Carmody was born November 19, 1932, in Beaumont, TX, to Katherine Huey Phelan and Anthony McDade Phelan. She was the granddaughter of Johannah Cunningham Phelan and John Henry Phelan (Beaumont, TX), and Ruby Desforges Huey and Arthur Spencer Huey (New Orleans, LA). She graduated from St. Anthony High School and attended College of the Sacred Heart (St. Louis, MO) and St. Mary’s Dominican College (New Orleans, LA). She studied the works of St. Thomas Aquinas, and she taught catechism in Beaumont. Mrs. Carmody married the love of her life, Thomas Gaughan Carmody, in 1956, and they made their home in Shreveport, LA. Together, they lived a life full of service to their church, family, and community.

Mrs. Carmody lived an extraordinary life doing the simple things. Her smiling eyes and big heart drew people to her. From the many friends of her children, to her everyday encounters such as a cashier at Walgreens or a waitress at Strawn’s Eat Shop, she never missed an opportunity to connect. She embraced those around her giving undivided attention while making each person feel important and seen. An exceptional listener, she spent countless hours gently guiding those who needed to be heard. Mrs. Carmody was known as Katherine, Big K, Mama, Mrs. C., MaMee, and Ma Mere, each denoting a special connection. No matter the moniker, love was at the heart of every relationship.

Mrs. Carmody was devoted to the Catholic faith. A longtime parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Shreveport, she attended daily Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Quiet and humble, she welcomed others into the faith community, leading by example. Through perpetual prayer, devotion, and presence, she inspired others to live out their own faith in love. She also supported her children’s activities at St. Joseph School, St. Vincent Academy, and Jesuit High School/Loyola College Prep, befriending countless teachers, men and women religious, students, and parents along the way.

Mrs. Carmody was preceded in death by her loving husband of 56 years, Thomas Gaughan Carmody; her sons, Christopher Phelan Carmody and Anthony Phelan Carmody; daughter, Caroline Carmody Chumley; and grandson, Frederick Miller Carmody; her parents, Katherine Huey Phelan and Anthony McDade Phelan; brothers, A.M. Phelan, Jr., Daniel Phelan, and Patrick Phelan; sister, Johannah Cunningham Phelan; and nephews, Patrick Henry Phelan II and Andrew Christian Phelan.

She is survived by ten living children: Katherine Carmody Frangos (Dino) of Mobile, AL; Thomas Gaughan Carmody, Jr. (Wendy) of Shreveport, LA; Francis Michael Carmody (Ourania) of Shreveport, LA; Josephine Carmody Brigham (Gabriel) of Kerrville, TX; Anne Carmody Pugh (Scott) of Slidell, LA; Elizabeth Carmody Van Genderen (Denver, CO); John Barry Carmody (Elizabeth) of Shreveport, LA; Margaret Carmody Hagood (Robert) of Charleston, SC; Bridget Carmody Day (Baton Rouge, LA), Marie Kennedy Carmody (Stephen Alexander) of Baton Rouge, LA, and daughter-in-law, Katherine Miller Carmody of Shreveport, LA. She is also survived by her beloved younger siblings: Margaret Phelan Green, Mary Ellen Phelan Hunt, Colleen Phelan McMahon, Lillian Phelan Bean, Patrick Henry Phelan, Michael Arthur Phelan, Courtenay Phelan, and Harry Dennis Phelan. She was blessed to have close relationships with her siblings, siblings-in-law and their families, and she spent decades celebrating holidays and family events alongside generations of the Phelan and Carmody families.

She is also survived by 31 devoted grandchildren: Delbert William Chumley IV (Jasha); Daniel Thomas Chumley (Leslee); Walter Edward Chumley, Matthew Carmody Chumley (Roxanne); Brooks Karl Mitchell (Sarah Meyer); Katherine Elizabeth Frangos, Nicholas Soter Frangos, Ian Reese Mitchell (Camille Cook); Caroline Frangos Leatherman (Bo); Valentina Mary Mitchell (Caleb DeMoss); Elizabeth Kennedy Van Genderen, Eloise Josephine Day, Joseph Carmody Alexander, Michael Bryan Day, Thomas Phelan Van Genderen, Anthony Phelan Carmody, Jr., Georgia Louise Carmody, Robert Camp Hagood, Jr., Charlotte McDade Pugh, Rose Marie Carmody, Patrick Carmody Day, Philip Bragg Pugh, Francis Carmody Hagood, John Barry Carmody, Jr., Genevieve Elizabeth Carmody, Christopher Liam Day, William Carmody Pugh, Lily Grace Carmody, Mary Margaret Phelan Hagood, Virginia Maybank Hagood, and Anna Phelan Alexander.

She is blessed with 11 great-grandchildren: Mary Ava Gaughan Chumley, Cecelia Mae Ke’aka Chumley, Reagann Joy Chumley, Phelan Honua Carmody, Matthew Carmody Chumley, Jr., William Lawson Chumley, Christopher Thomas Chumley, Noel Katherine Chumley, Tucker Yiannis Mitchell, Claire Mohala Chumley, and Everett Carmody Willis.

Her grandsons honor her as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include her sons-in-law, Bryan Day, John Fontaine, and Mike Harrington.

The family is deeply grateful for the years of love and care provided by Drs. Rick Michael and Dick Haynie, Jeff Crane, Sandra Carter, Patricia Goods, Janet Jackson, Patricia Knighton, Linda Simien, and Wanda Williams. We are also grateful for the eucharistic ministers who devotedly brought the Holy Eucharist when she was unable to attend Mass.

Memorials may be made to the Carmody Memorial Fund at Loyola College Prep, 921 Jordan Street, Shreveport, Louisiana 71101, or to St. Joseph Catholic School, 1210 Anniston Avenue, Shreveport, Louisiana 71105.

A.M.D.G.
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
May the rains fall soft upon your fields,
and, until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
You pray for me,
As I pray for thee,
That we may meet merrily in heaven.