Bertina Rita Nelson

She was born in New Iberia, La, to Louis Sterling and Anne Suzette Barras Orsot. She married Joseph Vinton Nelson in New Iberia and moved to Lake Charles to raise her family. She was a former member of Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. In 1977 she moved in St Henry Catholic Church Parish where she became a long time member until the present day. After the death of her husband she briefly worked at Green Acres Nursing Home

She enjoyed a typical day starting early in the morning with prayer, a cup of coffee, cooking lunch very early, working in her yard and garden, watching her afternoon stories, visiting with her children and family members, and ending with "The Price is Right and Wheel of Fortune," after which the night ended very early. Extra activity on Saturday included Zydeco Dances, French Music on the radio and watching the Food Channel. At the "drop of a hat" she was ready to eat out or travel. Occasionally she enjoyed taking her $20 dollars out to the casino for a donation. It pleased her to cook for others and watch them eat what she prepared. A trait that no doubt developed at a very young age as she helped her mother tend to her own younger brothers and sisters during the difficult period of the early 1930's.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Joseph Vinton Nelson; parents, Sterling and Suzette Orsot; brother Peter Spauldin Orsot; and sister Sedonia Granger. Those left to cherish and honor her memory are her children Paul Donald Nelson (Shelia), Sally Ann Guillory (Hubert), Joseph Larry Nelson Sr. (Janis), Wallace Michael Nelson (Lou Ann), and Ted Anthony Nelson (Elizabeth); siblings, Nicholas Orsot, Sr., Francis Orsot, Veda Biagas, Julien Orsot, Maurine Pappion Granger, Irene Metoyer, Henry Orsot, and Joycelyn LeCompte; twenty grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren, and one step great-grand child.

Funeral Services will be held at St. Henry's Catholic Church on Friday December 30, 2011 at 11 A.M. Visitation will be at the Church from 7 A.M.. to 10:50 A.M with a Rosary being recited at 9 AM. Burial will follow the Mass in Consolata Cemetery Following Services.

In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in her name to St. Henry's Building Bridges Fund or to a charity of your choice.