BASILE-  It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Patricia (Patsy) Ann Ortego, who departed from us on Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024, at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital in Sulphur, at the age of 86. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m.  on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024, at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Basile. Entombment will follow in the St. Augustine Mausoleum with Father Keenan Brown, Celebrant

She found joy in singing, camping with friends and excelled in the art of card playing, earning her the affectionate nickname “card shark”. Her culinary skills were matched only by her extraordinary capacity for nurturing, as a mother, grandmother, wife, sister, and cherished friend to all. Pat possessed a unique ability to envelop those around her with love and care, seeing the inherent goodness in each person she encountered and treating them like family.

Patricia, born on June 4, 1937, to Hubert and Sybil Fontenot, now joins her departed parents; husband, Van Ortego; daughter, Rochelle Ortego; sister, Reba Darce and husband, Harold, and brother, Farrell Fruge. She leaves behind a profound void, mourned deeply by her daughter, Shaleen Bowman and husband, Scott, of Ohio City, Ohio; son, Paul Ortego of Pineville; granddaughter, Daryon Welch of Ohio City, Ohio; along with her brothers, Edwin Fruge and his wife, Janie, and Gerald Fruge and his wife, Joy, all of Lake Charles, and a sister-in-law, Mary Maude Fruge of Baton Rouge,  as well as numerous nieces, nephews and dear friends.

In accordance with the family’s wishes, a visitation will be held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Basile on Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 at 9 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. 

Family and friends are invited to commemorate her memory and leave condolences at www.ar doinfuneralhomes.com

Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Basile, 1210 South Ryan, (337)432-6726 is in charge of arrangements.