Bess Myers Landry

Bess Landry passed away on July 30, 2023, peacefully at her home in Washington, LA, surrounded by her children.

Visitation will be held on Friday, August 4, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Skip Montet Memorial Chapel at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, LA. A Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m. in the funeral home by Deacon Dwayne Joubert. Visitation will resume on Saturday, August 5, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. until 9:30 a.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. in the St. Landry Catholic Church in Opelousas. Rev. Fr. Neil Pettit will celebrate the Mass. A private burial will be held at a later date.

Born and raised in Opelousas, Bess graduated from Charity Hospital School of Nursing, New Orleans. She worked as a registered nurse at Charity—becoming head nurse of the “accident room”—until marrying and beginning her family. Bess and her husband Ronald established their household on the West Bank of New Orleans. They returned to St. Landry Parish in 2005 and lived in Washington for the rest of their lives.

“Miss Bess” was a full-time wife and mother, designated neighborhood nurse, and a key member of the group of Niagara Drive parents who collectively shepherded a large flock of children. She was an established figure at Visitation of Our Lady parochial school, where at least one child was enrolled for 22 consecutive years. She was also deeply involved with Immaculata High School; she and Ronald served as co-presidents of the school’s Co-op Board for several years.

Bess was a fierce advocate for her loved ones and her principles; she was a talented seamstress and voracious reader; she was a small-town girl who established a career in the big city, raised a family in the suburbs and retired to the country. She experienced profound tragedies and maintained a devilish sense of humor; her memory is best commemorated with laughter.

Bess is survived by her son, Robert R. Landry, of New York, NY; her daughters, Lisa C. Landry of Washington, LA; Catherine A. Landry of Houston, TX; and Martha Landry Hightower and husband, Benjamin, of Austin, TX. She is also survived by three grandchildren, Jacob Juve, Camille Hightower and Elizabeth Hightower.

She was preceded in death by her daughter, Karen Louise Landry; her husband, Ronald R. Landry; her parents, Valerie Myers and Martha Mallet Myers; and her sister, Shirley Myers Kewley.

Family and friends are invited to visit our website at www.lafondardoin.com.         

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, (337) 942-2638, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.