Minta Oliver Danna

Minta Danna, 89, of Lake Charles died at 3:30 PM on Monday, January 30, 2012 in a local hospital.

She was born in Austin, Texas on 9/22/22 to parents who spoke different languages. She grew up in Washington D.C. Then she lived in New Orleans for 50 years and loved her home, family and friends. She moved to Lake Charles with her son Joe Pendarvis in 2004 before Katrina to live near her daughter Joy. She quickly adapted to her new home and made new friends.

She was a freshman at TCU at the age of 16. In her 50's she worked at the Southern Regional Research Lab for scientists who invented Tang for the astronauts. She then worked at Moisant Airport as a teletypist. Lastly, she worked at Ochsner Clinic as an Internal Medicine transcriptionist until she was 80. She published a book of Internal Medicine words and their meanings. At 80, Memorial Hospital offered her a full time job.

She was witty, interesting and fun. She had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, interest in politics, handwork and computers, but she was mostly content to sit with her feet up reading library books on her I-pad.

Those left to cherish her memory are a daughter, Joy Danna Cates and husband R. Thomas of Lake Charles; seven grandchildren, Charlene Marie Shawa, Jeffrey, Charlie, and Andrew Danna, Barry Robertson, Joe Oliver Pendarvis, Jr., and David Martin Pendarvis; and five great grandchildren, Benjamin David and Emily Grace "Arminta" Shawa, Danielle, Ashley, and Julia Lauren Pendarvis, and Brandon and Abigail Robertson.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gertrude and Joe Oliver; and two sons, Gilbert Reed Danna and Joe Oliver Pendarvis, Sr.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, February 3, 2012 in the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Chris Fuselier will officiate. Burial will be in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM and will continue on Friday from 8:00 AM until the start of the services.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Humane Society, ASPCA, or to any charity to help animals.