Marcel Joseph Marie Keraval, 84, passed away peacefully on December 28, 2025, leaving behind a life defined by passion, generosity, and an enduring love for food, family, and connection.

Born on May 31, 1941, in Laz, France, Marcel was one of eleven children. At just 13 years old, he left home to attend culinary school, beginning a lifelong journey devoted to his craft. His career took him through kitchens in France, The Bahamas, New York, and Omaha before he ultimately settled in St. Louis, Missouri, which he proudly called home for 50 years.

In St. Louis, Marcel became a cherished figure in the culinary community as a chef and co-owner of two highly successful French restaurants, L’Auberge Bretonne and Café de France. These family-owned restaurants were co-owned and managed alongside his wife, Monique, with her sister Rachel and brother-in-law Jean-Claude Guillossou, reflecting a shared commitment to hospitality, tradition, and excellence. He introduced generations of diners to the art of French cooking and hospitality.

Marcel had a rare gift. He never met a stranger, and he believed deeply in the power of a shared table. Any occasion could become a fête in his hands, marked by laughter, good wine, and food made with care and intention. His legacy lives on in the countless memories created in his restaurants and in the lives of those who learned from him, worked alongside him, or simply sat down to enjoy a meal he prepared.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Monique Keraval, with whom he had just celebrated their wedding anniversary on December 27; his daughter, Elizabeth Cordes; his grandchildren, Stella and Ben Cordes; and beloved family in France and Canada.

A Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring. Details will be shared at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Marcel’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.