Dianne Mader Savoie

    Dianne Mader Savoie, a native of Houma and resident of Bayou Blue, died at 9:00 A.M., Saturday, August 25, 2012.             A memorial service will be held at St. Louis Catholic Church in Bayou Blue at 11:00 A.M., Saturday, September 1, 2012.             She is survived by her beloved husband Peter Christopher Savoie; two sons: Donald Wayne “Duke” Boyne II and wife Misha Hulse Boyne of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Christopher “Chris” Patrick Boyne of New Orleans; her brother Danny Mader from Houma; her maternal aunt Margie Clement from Mandeville and her paternal aunt Joan Silver from New Orleans.               She was preceded in death by her parents, Elton Mader and Rosie Clement Mader and her husband’s daughter Alison Kay Savoie.         Dianne was a community activist and was extremely instrumental in raising awareness about dyslexia.  From 1990-1997, she was Coordinator of the Vandebilt Catholic High School Dyslexia and ADD Program, a program that gained national recognition and served as a model for other schools to emulate. She helped promote legislation for the education of dyslexic students and took great pride in supporting the establishment of the Louisiana Center for the Study of Dyslexia and Related Disorders at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.  For the past fifteen years, she was the Coordinator of the Giardina Family Foundation, collaborating with other non-profit organizations, schools, etc. on endeavors to provide current research-based information for professionals, parents, and the community to foster a greater understanding of individuals with reading disorders and ADHD.  Dianne’s dream of creating a tuition-free public school for this unique population of individuals became a reality when The Maxine Giardina Charter School in Thibodaux was chartered in 2007.   Dianne served on The MAX Board of Directors as its secretary since its inception.                 To send condolences, please visit www.chauvinfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The MAX Charter School, P.O. Box 2072, Thibodaux, LA 70310.