Dan Nola

an even better grandfather, a wonderful provider, and the best friend anyone could ask for.

People considered themselves lucky to be one of “Dino’s friends”. For myself, my sister Haylie

and my brother Jake, he was an advisor, a mentor, a friend and our biggest cheerleader. He

always pushed us to be better and offered continuous encouragement. Our entire childhood he

sacrificed everything he could for our family. He worked so hard so that we could have a

stay-at-home mother. That was the best gift he gave us. Dad had a way of making his grandsons feel like men and his granddaughters like princesses. He loved feeding people, playing oldies really loud, and watching old westerns. He loved The Three Stooges, Sanford and Son, and documentaries about the mafia. He always got excited when one of us would watch with him. He ordered spaghetti and meatballs at any restaurant that had it on the menu. But his favorite was our mom’s spaghetti and meatballs. Dad was born on February 3, 1952 and was raised with his 3 older siblings on Highland Road. Being the youngest, he was spoiled rotten and he knew it. Family was everything to Dad and he maintained an incredibly close relationship with most of his first cousins, as well as distant cousins, his entire life. Dad was always the one to organize family reunions. Although he was a shy child, you would have never known it as an adult. Dad never met a stranger. We couldn’t go anywhere without him running into a friend. Dad was very proud of his football days at Catholic High. He is what you might call a legend within his Catholic High circle from the late 1960’s. Even during his elementary days at St. Agnes, he was quite the football player, and his friends still quote some of his highlights and

stats from those days. Friends were very important to Dad. He made lifelong friends at St.

Agnes and Catholic High that were always a huge part of our lives. Even as adults we still love

hearing Dad’s old stats from both St. Agnes and Catholic High. Those stories will be told to his

grandkids and great grandkids for years to come. Dad’s favorite place to be was at “the camp”. Mom was always astonished at how he could finish up a long week at work then drive several hours to Venice to fish, clean fish, cook, clean the boat, clean the camp, and then drive back home on Sunday. But it was his escape from the worries of the world. Anyone who was invited to go fishing with “Captain Dan” knows how blessed they are. Six days after Dad’s 69th birthday, he left this earth and joined so many loved ones in heaven. What a sight it must have been to see his parents greet him. He spoke so often about how much he missed them, and his heart was still broken from losing them. He has so many friends that left him too young, and we like to think they are fishing in heaven. Dad was preceded in death by his parents Angelo “Zeke” and Annie Militello Nola; an infant sister Francis; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that were very dear to him. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Allyson Serio Nola; his daughter Natalie Thompson (Preston) and her children Daniel, Anna and Nicholas; his daughter Haylie Smith (Brad) and her children Loclon, Ally and Annie; his best friend, son and pride & joy Jake; his brother Angelo “Zeke” Nola, Jr; and his sisters Kathleen Labbe and Pauline Litton.

Visitation will be on Thursday, February 11, 2021 from 4:00-7:00 pm at Rabenhorst East (11000

Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70815). At noon on Friday, February 12, 2021 we will only have a

Funeral mass which will take place at St. George Catholic Church. Burial will follow at St. George Cemetery. Pallbearers will be his grandson Daniel Thompson; his son-in-laws Preston

Thompson and Brad Smith; his nephew and godson Joe Labbe; his godson Trey Samaha; his

co-worker and good friend Bryan “Bobo” Hastings; and his honorary nephews Michael Thomas

and Scott Wilson. Honorary pallbearers are his grandsons Nicholas Thompson and Loclon

Smith; his cousins Austin Nola and Aaron Nola; and his honorary nephews Chad Bonanno and

Christopher Bonanno. Our family would like to thank Dad’s good friends and trusted doctors Dr. Carl Luikart and Dr. Peters. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway.” – John Wayne