Birth date: Jul 25, 1939 Death date: Apr 20, 2024
Melvin John Chelena, age 84, of Madisonville, passed away on Saturday, April 20, 2024. He was born on July 25, 1939, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Rita Elaine Perrilloux Chelena; his secon Read Obituary
I had Mr Chelena every year in high school. I finished school in 1969 and by far He was the best teacher and friend I ever had .Rest in Peace Old Friend.
Peace be with the family.
Julie Abel
I was fortunate to take several shop classes under Mr. Chelena in the early '90s. He was among my favorite teachers, so much so that I took his summer classes twice even though I didn't need the credits. He was a joy to be around and cared deeply about his students. He was an amazing person. My thoughts are with his family today.
There are no words to express the heartbreak that I feel at the loss of my longtime, dear friend Melvin. We have been friends since grammar school and high school in New Orleans, and college in Hammond. So many wonderful times and memories we have shared. Melvin, may you be at peace, knowing how much you were loved and will be missed. Larry Dale
I never had him as a classroom teacher but in the 1960s interfaced with him and his shop students who built sets for the Covington High plays. Prior to my senior year, 1968, I attended a scenery design workshop for educational theater at the encouragement of our speech teacher Judy Lacour. The course taught a new way of building lightweight flats that were portable and covered in craft paper and burlap. And were held together with burlap hinges! Mr. Chelena was at first a bit wary of the new way, thinking they would not be sturdy enough. But I explained as best I could and he read the textbook that I had from the course (at Centenary in Shreveport) and he and his carpentry students took it on. I will always remember him as having a sense of humor and in the case of the CHS 1968 musical, a willingness to try something new, even if it meant strangely ripping 1 x 4s into 1 x 2s for those skinny set supports. He was a great teacher. Ted Talley, St. Tammany native and CHS class of 68.
