Anita Marie Carlino Ortega

A Mass of Christian Burial for Anita Marie Carlino Ortega will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Monday, March 19, 2012, in St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church with Rev. Bob Garrione officiating. Entombent will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum under the direction of John Kramer & Son. Mrs. Ortega, 74, of Alexandria, LA, entered eternal rest early Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 4:52 in the morning with her loving husband, John at her side. She was born in Alexandria, LA, on August 30, 1937 to Jack T. Carlino and Mary DiStefano. She had very close relationships with her two younger sisters, Mamie Louise Carlino-Miller and Josephine Ann Carlino-Coffey. She married John Ortega of Raton, New Mexico, on March 3, 1957. Together, Anita and John started their family in Alexandria with the birth of their eldest son, Richard Gary Ortega. In the summer of 1964, Anita and John drove out to California and raised Gary with his two sisters, Teresa and Juanita. While living in California, Anita earned her degree in Early Childhood Education and worked as a certified teacher at the very prestigious Challenger School where she was recognized for the gentle, loving demeanor she had with her young students. In 2000, Anita and John returned to Alexandria after John retired. Anita met many friends while bowling and enjoyed playing Bingo with her sisters-in-law, Eleanor and Delores. She loved reading, cooking and traveling to visit family every chance she got. She always treated everyone who was fortunate enough to know her as if they were one of her own. Anita was a warm, loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She always looked forward to the time she had creating fond memories with her family during their visits each year. Anita is survived by her three children: Gary Ortega and his wife Tonja of Newark, CA, Teresa Ortega-Tucker and her husband Larry of Beaverton, OR, and Juanita Ortega-Clifton and her husband Joseph of Newark, CA. She was beloved Nana to her grandchildren: Michael Jacob Pugh, Dillon Nathaniel Tucker, Charisse Marie Ortega, Brianna Jennine Ortega, Peyton James Clifton, and Carlina Colette Clifton; and great-grandmother to Isaiah King, Ethan Charles, Elijah Jaden and baby Madison; and loving aunt to numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 19, 2012 at John Kramer & Son. The family requests memorials are made out to St. Jude's Children Research hospital, ATT: Memorial/Honor Program FH, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 300, Memphis, TN 38148-0052 or a charity of the donor's choice. Pallbearers will be Kevin Jacobs, Bobby Young, Jamie Vanantwerpen Jr., Jimmy Miller, Mark Gormanous, Michael Gormanous, Scott Givens Online notes of condolence to the family can be submitted to [email protected].