DOROTHY H. BURGESS

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 2, 2013 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Dorothy (Dot) H. Burgess, 85, who passed away on Monday, February 25, 2013 at her residence. She was a Christmas baby and born the daughter of a sharecropper, an honest and noble profession. By any standard of measure, the family was poor, really poor, but only in material things, for there was plenty of love amongst her four siblings and parents. Dot was grateful for the small things in life, like holiday celebrations with her sisters and brother, boucheries, and dances. She was most thankful that God gave her four granddaughters, one great grandson and several adopted "children". She was able to live in a home she owned, without pain or agony, until she decided to leave this life. Dot was preceded in death by her husband, R.L. (Bob) Burgess, her parents, Victoria and Willie Hollier, her sisters, Wilma Arceneaux, Constance (Sweet) Dent, and Carita (Pu) Guilbeau. She is survived by her beloved brother, Heywood Hollier of Crowley, her daughter, Vickie Ritchey of Breaux Bridge, LA, her son, Robert Burgess of Prairieville, LA and her step daughter, Carol Oakes of San Antonio, TX and sons in law, Dan Ritchey and Ernie Oakes, her four granddaughters, Andrea Tognetti of Peoria, IL, Briana Burgess of Boston, MA, Elysia Doncer of Abilene, TX and Maisie Burgess of Monroe, LA, her great grandson Julius Roland Tognetti and her adopted great grandson, Gage Ritchey. The family would like to express its gratitude to Denise Powell Huntsberry, her loving friend and caregiver who stayed by her side for seven years and was present at her passing. Pallbearers will be Frank Harrington, Samuel Dent, Dan Ritchey, Ernie Oakes, Robert Burgess, Tommy Hollier, Andrea Tognetti, Briana Burgess, Elysia Doncer, and Maisie Burgess. Honorary pallbearers will be Pat Arceneaux, Barbara Dugas, Gage Ritchey and Harold Stutes, III. A visitation will be held at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Friday, March 1, 2013 from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm and will continue on Saturday from 9:00 am until time of service. Interment will be at Lafayette Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Lafayette, 301 Kaliste Saloom Rd., Ste 101, Lafayette, LA 70503. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.

DOROTHY H. BURGESS

December 25, 1927 - February 25, 2013