Mary Jane Woolledge "Janie" Creel

Mary Jane Woolledge “Janie” Creel passed away on Friday, August 7, 2026. She was born in New Orleans, LA and a resident of Metairie, LA. Aged 94 years she was the widow of John L. "Johnny" Creel, Sr. They were married 58 years. She was the only child of Mae Whitaker and Thomas L. Woolledge. She graduated from St. Rita's Elementary School, Sacred Heart of Jesus High School and received her dance teaching certificate from the Haines and Morton School of Dance. Janie lived a long and productive life. She shared her time and talents with her family, friends and community. Her decades of volunteering began with fundraising for United Cerebral Palsy. When her children were in school at St. Christopher the Martyr Parish she taught a group of students to square dance for the annual fair. She later became the secretary for the High School of Religion. She joined the Altar Society and served two terms as President becoming an honorary member after twenty years. She also served two terms as President of the St. Christopher Senior Citizens Club. She belonged to the Mission Rosary Makers. When she could no longer make rosaries she did the packaging. She belonged to the Holy Name Society. She was appointed parish Historian in 2007. She was an Extraordinary Minister of Communion. She received the Catholic Charities leadership and service award, as well as The Order of St Louis IX Medallion her most cherished recognition. She served two terms as President of Sacred Heart of Jesus High School Alumni Association. She worked with Tulane University Archives to preserve the association's records. She continued to serve on the board of directors through its final Homecoming in 2025. She was a founding member of AARP River Ridge Chapter 4595 and served two terms as President. As part of their Caring Ladies group she volunteered at St Anthony's Nursing Home for 12 years. She served two terms as President of the Metairie Terrace Civic Association. She served on the Board of Directors of the Metairie Senior Center and was a member of JeffCap-RSVP, Retired Senior Volunteer Program. This past April she received her twenty-five year appreciation certificate from the Metairie Women's Club. For more than fifty years she worked tirelessly to promote and preserve Square Dancing. As founding members of the Metropolitan New Orleans Area Square and Round Dance Association she and Johnny served two terms as President and she was Historian for decades. She again worked with Tulane University Archives to preserve the Association's records. She and Johnny also represented the New Orleans Square Dance Callers Association on the Board of the Louisiana Square Dance Association where she was also Historian. In 2016 she was made a Lifetime Honorary Board member and Historian. In 1969 she attended the first State Convention as well and in 2019 the fiftieth State Convention and many in between. She and Johnny chaired the eleventh State Convention here in 1980. They were co-chairs of the National Convention in NOLA in 1971. Professionally she taught dance and was a tour director for Universal Travel Agency. In her spare time she had a love for gardening, enjoyed ceramics, and was well known for her sewing skills, especially the Square Dance dresses she designed. She sewed clothing, home goods and dance costumes for her family. She was also a great cook. She researched genealogy before it was on line. She accomplished all this with a severe hearing impairment. In addition to her husband and parents she was preceded in death by her son John L. Creel, Jr. and son-in-law Richard A. Reed. Left to cherish her memory is daughter Mary Jane C. Holmes and husband Rodger B. Holmes Sr., daughter-in-law Arlene "Bonnie" Creel, daughter Barbara C. Reed, grandchildren Rodger B. Holmes Jr., Jennifer C. Romano and husband Mark, Brian J. Creel and wife Erin and Thomas P. Reed. She also leaves behind nephew James F. "Pete" Wilson and Godchild Barbara Onisko. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Visitation and Funeral Mass at St. Christopher the Martyr Catholic Church, 3924 Derbigny St., Metairie, LA on Friday, August 14, 2026. Visitation will be held at church from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 12:30 p.m. Interment in Greenwood Cemetery, New Orleans, LA. Arrangements by L. A. Muhleisen & Son Funeral Home. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.muhleisen.com

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Mary Jane Woolledge "Janie" Creel

January 28, 1932 - August 7, 2026