By Stacey Plaisance / L’Observateur / January 13, 1999

Through answering the phone, tending to visitors and organizing files, Kitty Gaudia of LaPlace keeps a smile on her face and a cheerful attitude.

Kitty has been a secretary with the St. John Parish School System for 23years. She initiated her employment in the school system at age 18 atReserve Junior High School. Kitty has since been an employee at LeonGodchaux Junior High, John L. Ory and now East St. John Elementary School.”I’ve been here since the school opened about 12 years ago,” Kitty said. “Ilove the children. It’s like I’m their Mom.”A single mother of two, Kitty said she loves working with children and strives to be a good role model for the students and her own children.

Kitty has a son, Glenn Jr., 19, and daughter, Annderlyn, 16.”I hope they are successful and happy in their lives,” Kitty said with a prideful grin. “I want to be a good role model for them, and I hope thatthey work hard and keep a positive outlook.”Kitty said her motto is, “It’s nice to be nice.” She said she gets along withmost people and has a big heart. Friends and co-workers say Kitty has agreat personality and that makes her easy to get along with.

After a long day at work, Kitty said it is time to start another job – her job on the home front.

“After I’m done here at work, I go home and start cooking and cleaning and taking care of the kids,” she said. “Some days it’s fun, but some days Ianswer my home phone saying, ‘Hello, East St. John Elementary.'”When Kitty finds the spare time, she enjoys reading and shopping. Herfavorite reading materials are newspapers and magazines.

“I love a good magazine,” she said.

As a lifelong resident of LaPlace and most of her family residing in the area, Kitty said she has no intentions of ever leaving.

“I plan on staying right here, and I’m hoping to retire from here,” she said.

Kitty said her son, now working for a company in Reserve, plans on attending college in the near future. Her daughter also plans on attendingschool to become a pharmacist.

“I hope all their dreams come true,” Kitty said.

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