Bernadine Fontenot

In Loving Memory of Dean

VILLE PLATTE - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Bernadine “Dean” Fontenot, at 2:00 PM on Monday, December 23, 2024, at Our Lady Queen of All Saints Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Evangeline Memorial Park Cemetery with Father Stephen Pellessier presiding over the services.

Dean, 87, was born and raised in Grand Prairie and was the last surviving sibling of nine. Her parents were store owners and farmers, and from a young age, she worked alongside them in the cotton and potato fields, often leaving school to help support the family.

At 20, she married the love of her life, Hubert, after meeting him at a dance. Together, they built a life full of love, laughter, and resilience. Dean worked tirelessly at a potato cannery, Cles McDaniel Army Surplus, and co-owned a crawfish plant, where she spent countless hours packing crawfish. Later in life, she babysat full-time and taught French to her first great-grandbaby, Blake.

She was the proud mother of four children: Eva, her first and only daughter, followed by three sons, Carol, Roland, and Gordon. Dean’s love shone brightest in her care for Gordon, teaching him independence and supporting him unconditionally, even sharing a nursing home with him later in life. Her heart extended beyond her children to her nieces, nephews, and even her aging grandmother, whom she lovingly cared for.

Dean had a larger-than-life personality and a unique way of showing love. If she teased you, you knew you were special. Her signature response to "I love you" was a simple but heartfelt "me too sha." She was a safe place for everyone, always finding a way to help, even when she didn’t have much herself.

Known for her cooking, Dean’s fried chicken and pork rib roast with cracklin’ were legendary, though her methods—everything at 375 degrees—might raise eyebrows. She loved playing cards, especially Bourrée and Spades, and her laugh while winning was unforgettable. Her love for the casino endured even in her later years, convincing nurses to sneak her along for the fun.

Dean was a woman of hard love, quick wit, and unwavering generosity. She was the center of her family, hosting nights of camping out in her living room, spoiling everyone with food and joy. A woman with a knack for style, a few speeding tickets, and an unmatched love for her family, Dean will forever be remembered for the light and laughter she brought to all who knew her.

Her big laugh and bigger heart lives on in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, Dean’s memory will remain a source of comfort and inspiration to all who were lucky enough to have known and loved her.

Dean will be deeply missed by her loving family, her daughter, Eva Reviere (Marcus) and son, Gordon Fontenot; her grandchildren, Rhonda (Karl), Jacob (Jade), Sophie (Joe), Scott (Shanon), and Josh (Claire); her great-grandchildren, Blake, Shelby, Kelsey, Gannon, Christian, Shaylin, Hunter, Harley, Riely, Mia Joe, Liam, Max and Ian; her great-great-grandchildren, Avery, Jason, Jillian, Leah, Colt and Ellie Mae.

She is preceded in death by husband, Hubert Fontenot; her children, Carol Fontenot and Ronald Fontenot; her parents, Elizabeth Dupre Vidrine and Elford Vidrine; her grandchildren, Chatelain Fontenot and Brynn Reviere and her siblings, Francis Vidrine, Jessie Vidrine, Mary Vidrine, Ellie Vidrine, Berkley Vidrine, Anna Belle Vidrine, Therese Vidrine and Everette Vidrine.

Visitation will be held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Ville Platte on Monday, December 23, 2024, beginning at 9:00 AM until 1:00 PM with a Rosary being prayed at 1:00 PM with Father Stephen Pellessier,

Serving as pallbearers will be Jacob, Blake, Scott, Hunter, Ashton and Gannon. Honorary pallbearer will be Gordon Fontenot.

The family would like to Thank the staff at Heritage Manor Nursing Home of Ville Platte for the care and compassion shown to Dean.

Family and friends are invited to share their condolences and memories for the Fontenot family at www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com.

Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Ville Platte is honored to be entrusted with these arrangements.