Charles “Charlou” Edward Maggio was born on April 20, 1935. A life-long resident of Natchitoches, he passed away on June 6, 2020 at the age of 85. Charlou was predeceased by his wife of 52 years, Myrna Maggio, parents, Joseph and Rose Maggio, brother, Kenneth Maggio, and son-in-law, Ren Todtenbier.
He is survived by his daughters, Michele Todtenbier, Marla Prince, Monica Smith, and Aimee Fontenot (Greg); siblings, Sam Maggio (Janice) and Billy Maggio (Netchanok); brother and sister in-laws, Mark “Randy” Cain (Lora) and Toni Winkler (Ronnie); grandchildren, Ryan Todtenbier (Erika) and Joshua Smith (Shauna); step-grandchildren, Cole Martin (Jaclyn), Kyle Stringer (Nicole), Brittin Fontenot (Jamie), Gregory Fontenot (Briana), and Katherine Kugler (Greg); great-grandchildren, Anna Todtenbier, Adam Todtenbier, and Aubrey Smith; step-great-grandchildren, Kane Stringer, Ayden Stringer, Chloe Fontenot, Connor Fontenot, Anthony Kugler, and Austin Redstorm
A graduate of St. Mary’s Academy in 1954, Charlou excelled in basketball and baseball in school. As a young man, he served in the Army National Guard. He worked at the original Maggio’s Liquor store on the northwest corner of MLK. He operated the first drive through liquor store in the state with his uncle, Ned Maggio. In the 1960s, he opened Maggio’s Grocery, Meat Market, and Liquor, which he operated until 1980. A supporter of the community, he sponsored a softball team in the 1970s that won every championship they entered. After a short retirement from the grocery store, he worked offshore as a cook until the age of 80.
Charlou was young at heart and lived life to the fullest. He always had a project he was working on in his shop, out in his yard, or cooking. If a family member requested their favorite Charlou dish, they were never told no. On a pretty day, you would find Charlou in his backyard, reading and feeding his birds and squirrels. Nothing brought joy to Pa-Pee more than playing with his three great-grandchildren, Anna, Adam, and Aubrey, with whom he would joke and laugh the entire time they were together. He loved to travel and cruise. At 83, he traveled to Italy with a group of Maggio relatives to visit the town from which their ancestors immigrated, which was a trip of a lifetime. He will be remembered as always having a wave and a smile for everyone he knew. No matter where he went, he knew someone he would stop and strike up a conversation with, genuinely wanting to know what he had missed since the last time he saw them. His kind spirit will be greatly missed.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers include Mike Maggio, Kenny Maggio, Dr. Jason Maggio, Carlo Maggio, David Hadden, and Greg Giering. Honorary pall bearers are Sam Roy Fulco and Garry Bass.
Graveside services for Charles “Charlou” Edward Maggio will be held at 11 am Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at the Catholic Cemetery with Father Blake Deshautelle officiating. Social distancing will be observed.
I was very sadden to hear of Charlou’s passing. He was an integral part of Jackson Square Community, Not only was he raised up on North St., two houses over from our family on Gibson St. He opened a neighborhood grocery store on the corner of Lake St. And North St. And it was a store that everyone was a valued customer and everyone loved Charlou!! He did sponsor the first black ladies softball team in the city league, which I was a proud member of, representing Charlou’s Grocery coached by Coach Garrett. He was a great sponsor, but most of all, he was a great man you never saw without a smile. RIP my friend, (Cuz). 💔