Lorine Sturlese Baccigalopi, 94, was born Apr. 2, 1928 in Grand Chenier to parents Joseph F. and Dorothy Theriot Sturlese. She died Thursday, Apr. 21, 2022 in Lake Charles surrounded by her loving family.
Lorine graduated from Grand Chenier High School in 1944. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years Whitney Baccigalopi; daughter Mary Katherine “Kathy” Basco; her parents; siblings, Evoynne Richard, Enos “Buster” Sturlese, Adam Gooch “T” Sturlese, and Elougia “Lady” Richard.
She is survived by her children, Adam Gooch Baccigalopi (Cathy), Manvel, Texas, Robert “Bobby” Baccigalopi (Frances), Humble, Texas, Dorothy Falkenberg (Henri), Liege, Belgium, Joseph “JC” Baccigalopi (Nancy), Grand Chenier, Elougia Myers (Billy), Youngsville, Joyce Oliver (Ted), Lake Charles, Tina Baccigalopi, Lake Charles; son-in-law, Francis Basco; 17 granchildren, Scott Baccigalopi, Stephanie Wilds, Dodie Resendez, Angel Lozano, Skeeter Baccigalopi, Jeremie and Noemi Falkenberg, Angela Guidry, Nickie Blakley, Obra Baccigalopi, Kristin Saltzman, Karrie Baccigalopi, Lanette Baccigalopi, Alecia and Corey Myers, Megan Windsor, Morgan Chesson; 24 great-grandchildren, Corynne and Gunnar Baccigalopi, John, Ben and Kate Wilds, Robert, Riley and Reyna Resendez, Sophia, Joshua, Matthew Lozano, Arya and Alora Baccigalopi, Dalton Guidry, Ryan, Ethan and Logan Blakley, Amberlee and Aiden Saltzman, Trystanlee Baccigalopi, Lillyan Caviedes, Ava Lynn Prejean, Harlie Hiatt and Robby Chesson.
Lorine enjoyed baking, sewing and being a band mom. She was the former owner of Twin Oaks Trailer Park and worked as a substitute teacher and retired as a bus driver. Lorine made quilts for the St. Eugene Alligator Festival from 1986-2018. She was Alligator Festival Queen in 1999. She also crocheted baby blankets and made banners for South Cameron High School, McNeese State University, Northwestern State University, Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Daughters Association.
Lorine was a member of the St. Eugene Ladies Altar Society, a Eucharistic Minister and taught Catechism and Confirmation classes. She was a member of Farm Bureau, and started the poster contest for the Fur Festival. She was commissioned to create the Cameron Parish block for the Louisiana Bicentennial Blanket.
She was a Grand Chenier Home Demonstration member, a Ladies Auxiliary member of the American Legion Sturlese Post 364, Daughter of the Year, and a past regent of CDA Court Mary Olive 1463. She was a charter member of St. Katharine Drexel Court #2697 in Creole. Lorine loved doing geneology with her family while she entertained, cooked and spoiled her grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Corey Myers, Scott Baccigalopi, Skeeter Baccigalopi, Dalton Guidry, Robert Resendez, and Obra Baccigalopi.
Visitation was held on Sunday Apr. 24 from 3-9 p.m. at Hixson’s Funeral Home North Chapel in Lake Charles and resumed the next day from 8 -9:30 a.m. A Rosary was held Apr. 24, at 6 p.m. at Hixson’s Funeral Home North Chapel. A Funeral Service was held at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Lake Charles. Father Wayne LeBleu officiated. Burial followed in the Grand Lake/Sweetlake Cemetery in Sweetlake.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Gerald Morton, Kindred Home Health and Heart of Hospice for their kind and caring professional help.
(Paid Memorial)