On the Seventh of May 2026, Rai Tanisia Daigle of Mandeville, Louisiana passed away after an arduous battle with cancer. She will be missed by all who had the good fortune to know and love her as well as those who were lucky enough to meet her.

Born in New Orleans on the Twenty-Eighth of December to Thomas Louis Tanisia Sr. and Gladys Eagan Tanisia. Raised in the Irish Channel, Rai and her siblings were instilled with the belief that the value of a life is measured by your relationships with friends and family and how you treat everyone else outside those categories. By any measure, Rai had a life well lived. She worked long and hard to support her family leading to a 30-year career as a deputy clerk in Clerk’s Office of the Supreme Court of Louisiana. Rai left the Clerk’s Office to pursue her two greatest pleasures: being a full-time grandmother/great-grandmother and traveling.

Along the way, Rai managed to raise two wonderful children, Mark Andrew Daigle (Diane) and Kimberly Daigle Phares (Timothy)

Known affectionately as 'Grams' to her littlest loved ones, she adored her grandchildren: Erika Daigle Kelley (Stephen); Wesley Daigle-Smith (Zac); Molly Daigle Portier (CJ); Abbegayle Phares Macnamara (Andrew); and her 7 great-grandchildren. She loved playing games with them and never tired of teaching them card games.

When she wasn't playing with her great-grandchildren, Rai was either on a trip or planning her next trip. She has travelled extensively with groups such as The Red Hat Divas, with family and even solo. She has visited: Australia, Ireland, Italy and Scotland. She also has travelled throughout the United States. 

Rai had an extremely gregarious nature making her easy to approach for adults and children alike. During her children’s high school years she rapidly gained reputation as the “cool mom” by being hostess for massive parties. She allowed many high schoolers to attend even if they were unknown to her personally. She treated everyone as welcome and was often the life of the party.

Rai Tanisia Daigle is preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Louis Tanisia and Gladys Eagan Tanisia, her brother Thomas L. Tanisia Jr., and her grandchild Amelia Clare Phares. 

Rai Tanisia Daigle is survived by her sister Gaynell Tanisia Donelon (Thomas); her children Mark Daigle and Kimberly Phares; her Grandchildren Erika Kelley, Wesley Daigle-Smith, Molly Portier; Abbegayle Macnamara; and 7 great grandchildren.

The family wishes to specifically recognize and thank the ladies of Comfort & Joy for the excellent palliative care they provided to Rai during her convalescence. Then, when Rai’s body began to fail, the 24-hour care they provided made Rai feel comfortable and safe and allowed her to stay in her own home until late in her illness when the care she needed transitioned from palliative to hospice.

We also want to thank her entire medical team for their efforts to cure her and when that was no longer an option their help in easing her pain. And finally, the firefighters of engine houses 46 and 41 Central for their repeated assistance in getting Rai off the floor if she had fallen, checking her out and transporting her to hospital if she needed. Duties performed more times than we can remember without complaint. In fact, with cheery disposition such that Rai was able to laugh and joke with them even when in significant pain.

Short Graveside service to be held June 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m.

Greenwood Cemetery

5190 Canal Blvd #200

NOLA 70124

Plot 57 Sycamore Rose Metairie