Beverly Diane Sanders Bertinot

Beverly Diane Bertinot (née Sanders) passed away on September 26, 2026, at her residence in Opelousas, LA, surrounded by her family one day after her 73rd birthday. She was a woman of unshakable faith, fierce honesty, and even fiercer love for her family.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in the Skip Montet Memorial Chapel in the Lafond Ardoin Funeral Home in Opelousas. The Preachers for the service will be Tom Edmaiston and Donnie Ossman. Graveside services will be held at Bellevue Memorial Park in Opelousas.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. in the Skip Montet Memorial Chapel at Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home in Opelousas. The funeral home will re-open for visitation on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

Beverly was originally from North Louisiana and most recently resided in Opelousas, LA — though North Louisiana always remained home to her heart. She was a longtime member of White's Ferry Road Church of Christ and also attended Opelousas Church of Christ, where her faith found its community. She was, by every account, the strongest person her family ever knew — a staunch seeker and defender of the truth who had no patience for dishonesty and no hesitation in standing up for what was right. That strength was never more evident than when Beverly faced a terminal diagnosis. She met it head-on, without fear, and true to who she was, her first thoughts weren't for herself — she worried more about how the news would affect the people she loved than about what she herself was facing. Her faith carried her through, just as Job's carried him: "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth" (Job 19:25). Beverly raised her daughters with that same strength and independence, and she loved her children, grandchildren, and family more than anything in this world. To her grandchildren, she was “MawMaw” — legendary for her pancakes, a recipe and a ritual that every one of them, from the tallest to the smallest, will tell you no one else has ever come close to replicating. She was a faithful Rocky Movie fan and taught a women’s retreat on the Rocky Movie theme to all of the ladies who attended. She often told her daughters that if there was one song she wanted them to remember her by, it was "I Hope You Dance" — to meet life's hardships not with fear, but with the courage to keep moving, choosing risk over regret and joy over bitterness. Beverly is survived by her husband of 37 years, Michael Bertinot; daughters, Kelly Allen (Chad) and Mehgan Perez-Acosta (Carlos); step-daughter, Michelle Bertinot; grandchildren, Kaytlin Morris (Timothy), Austin Whittlesey, Ava Perez-Acosta, Parker Allen, and Nora Perez-Acosta; mother-in-law, Lorraine Clary Bertinot; brothers, Kenneth Sanders Sr., Dennis Sanders, and Stanley Sanders (Gloria); sisters, Brenda Bertram (Walter) and Lawanna Folse (Craig); her favorite nephew, Craig Sanders; and countless nieces, nephews, extended family, church family, and friends who loved her dearly. She was preceded in death by her great-grandson, Bentley Whittlesey; her brother, Melvin Sanders; her parents, Dorothy Hutto Sanders and Lonnie Sanders; her grandparents, Vyrtis Lee Mason Hutto and Colon Hutto; Doshie Sanders and Amos W. Sanders, Sr.; and her aunt and dearest friend, Dolores Townsend; her nephew, Kenneth Sanders, Jr.; and her father-in-law, Neil Bertinot. Beverly's love for her family was the center of her life, and the strength, faith, and truth she instilled in them will live on in every one of us. "If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you." — A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Pallbearers will be Ronald Bertinot, Jason Miller, David Bertinot, Austin Whittlesey, Parker Allen, and Craig Sanders. Honorary pallbearers will be Carlos Perez-Acosta, Chad Allen, and Bentley Whittlesey.

The family would love to extend special thanks to the staff of Open Arms Home Care (Ashley, Kierra, Amanda, and Chelsea), Hospice of Acadiana, M.D. Anderson, and Dr. Laura Braham for their compassion and taking such great care of her.

Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com.

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas, 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 (337-942-2638) has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.