Virginia Marie Bertrand Turner

EUNICE~ it is with the heaviest of hearts that the family of Virginia Marie Bertrand Turner announces her passing on Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Our Lady of Lourdes in Lafayette. She was 35. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Wednesday, July 03, 2024 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Eunice. A burial will follow in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery with Father Nick Ware, Celebrant.

 Virginia was born on June 14, 1989, to Billy and Telina Bertrand. In her high school and younger years, she worked at DC’s alongside her friends. She was a 2007 graduate of Eunice High School as Historian and also a 2011 graduate of UL as Valedictorian, and she achieved her Bachelor of Education. She was a dynamic and passionate educator who began her teaching career as a fourth-grade teacher at Redemptorist Catholic School in Crowley. She then went on to teach science at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Ville Platte where she was awarded Teacher of the Year, and then Hathaway High School where she was awarded Teacher of the Year twice. Ms. V is what many of her students affectionately called her. She was also a cheerleader sponsor and coach at Redemptorist and Scared Heart. She truly made a difference in the lives of so many young people.

 Virginia endured through all the tough times, tragically losing her dad nearly 13 years ago and battling cancer alongside her mother, who is now in remission, in 2023 as well as her beloved aunt who went home to Heaven last August. However, they were blessed with a gorgeous baby girl, Emmie, who was born in the midst of all this turmoil. The pure joy of motherhood and family had enriched Virginia’s life greatly during their impossibly difficult time and it helped fuel her fighting spirit. Virginia was a bright light. She was a kind and compassionate friend who treated everyone with dignity and had a way of making everyone feel seen and heard. She was a woman of great faith and character who loved so deeply and shared God’s love with everyone she met. She unites her suffering with Jesus, never complaining or asking why she received this cross.

 Virginia was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend and will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved her. She was the loving wife to her husband of four years, Jeffrey Turner of Rayne; a wonderful mother to Emmie Marie Turner of Rayne; a beautiful daughter to Telina Bertrand of Eunice; sister to Dylan Thomas Bertrand and wife, Alaina and their child, Scarlet Bertrand of Carencro; and granddaughter to Isabelle LeJeune of Mowata. Others left to cherish her memory are her in-laws, Scotty and Rose Turner of Broussard; sister-in-law, Kristen Turner Brown and husband, Bruce and their children, Kohl and Charlotte Brown of Lafayette, brother-in-law, Wesley Turner and wife, Ashley and their children, Harrison and Catherine of New Orleans; godchild, Cayleigh Bertrand of Carencro; as well as extended family and many dear friends.

 She is preceded in death by her father, Billy Bertrand; grandparents, Gerald and Rebecca LeJeune and Burke and Mary Lou Bertrand; aunt, Patricia Ann Reed and a cousin, Anthony Jagneaux.

 Pallbearers include Jeffrey Turner, Dylan Bertrand, Robert Bertrand, Kohl Brown, Bruce Brown, and Wesley Turner.

 At the request of the family, a visitation will be held at Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Eunice on Tuesday, July 2nd from 5:00 pm until 9:00 pm with a 6:00 pm Rosary being prayed by Deacon Denis LaCroix. On Wednesday, July 3rd a visitation begins at 8:00 am until time of services.

 For those wishing to express condolences or share fond remembrances of Virginia’s life journey online, please visit www.ardoinfuneralhomes.com. The family had entrusted arrangements to Ardoin’s Funeral Home in Eunice, 1301 West laurel Ave, (337) 457-3371.

 In honoring Virginia’s Legacy of love and kindness, let us carry forward her spirit of compassion and joy in all our undertakings, may she rest in eternal peace surrounded by love everlasting.