Dorothy Mae Hardy Orsot

Dorothy Mae Hardy Orsot, 85, left her earthly dwelling surrounded by loving family members at her residence on the morning of Tuesday, October 22, 2019, after a long and hard-fought battle with cancer over the past decade.

Mrs. Orsot was a native of Sulphur, LA and moved to Lake Charles, LA after the death of her first husband. Dorothy was the first born of Antoine and Mary Edna (Delafosse) Hardy. Known as “Dot” to those who knew and loved her, she was a homemaker in the years that her three children were young. She later worked at St. John Bosco Catholic Church for five years in housekeeping and as a cook. She also worked as a teacher’s aide at E. K. Key Elementary School in Sulphur, retiring in 1991 from the Calcasieu Parish School Board after 15 years of service. Mrs. Orsot was a faithful member of Christ the King Catholic Church.

Sassy in spirit and always one to give her honest opinion, Dorothy loved to cook, enjoyed zydeco dancing and most of all, she loved her family. Affectionately known as “Maw Maw”, Dorothy was notorious for welcoming her many grandchildren with an array of treats any time they visited. She will be remembered most for her diligence in caring for her loved ones, her generosity and the essence of her feisty, yet endearing, personality.

Those left to mourn her loss and cherish her memory are her husband of thirty years, Nicholas Orsot, Sr.; one daughter, Dianne LeFrere (Carl) of Lake Charles, LA; two sons, Edward Phillip Gradney (Evette), also of Lake Charles, and Christopher Wayne Gradney (Elaine) of Gonzales, LA; seven stepchildren, Nicholas Orsot, Jr. (Mary), David Orsot (Patricia), both of Lake Charles, LA, Herbert Orsot (Tina) of Houston, TX, Josephine Khazraee, Rebecca Orsot-Irving (Willie), both of Lake Charles, LA, Charlotte Orsot (David) of Young Harris, GA, and Mildred Orsot of New York, NY; one brother, Leroy Hardy, of Denver, CO, one sister, Betty J. Lewis (Willie) of Augusta, GA; six grandchildren, Christopher Gradney, Jr., Sharon LeFrere, Christina Johnson, Cara Fontenot, Kayla Powers, and Ryan Gradney; thirteen step grandchildren, Hope Jourdan, Margherita Orsot, Crystal Shelnutt, Alicia Ratliff, Christopher Jasper, Shelley Harrison, Paris Orsot, Nicholas Jasper, Preston Jourdan, Jr., Desiree Orsot, Maria Orsot, Khadijah Horthon and David Joshua (DJ) Orsot, seven great grandchildren, 13 step great grandchildren and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was preceded in death by her first husband of 37 years and father of her children, Edward Gradney, Sr.; her parents, Antoine and M. Edna Hardy, two step children, Paul Wayne Orsot and Sterling Richard Orsot.

Her funeral service will be at 1:00 PM on Friday, October 25, 2019 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Father Samuel Orsot will officiate. A Rosary will be recited at 9:00 AM followed by visitation until the time of the service. Interment will immediately follow at Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.

A special thank you to all of the family members who helped care for our beloved Dorothy during her time of illness. We are most grateful to Margherita Orsot who not only took great care of her but also oversaw the St. Joseph Hospice Staff among a host of other duties.