Nedra Ann Nesbit

On October 10, 2024, Nedra Ann (Bergeron) Nesbit, age 94, died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Claremont, the birthday of her second son Steve. She was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1930 as the only daughter of Matilda B. Duplantis and St. Clair John Bergeron. She survived her three older brothers, Samuel, Corrie and St. Clair, Jr. (Jay).

Nedra met her future husband, Richard Alvin Nesbit, when she was in second grade. Richard and Nedra lived around the corner from each other and would walk to and from school together. Richard would carry Nedra’s books as any young Southern boy would do for his sweetheart. They quickly formed a crush on each other and a bond that lasted for 87 years.

Richard and Nedra attended affiliated Catholic high schools in Baton Rouge, as the schools were segregated by gender. Richard attended the all-boys Catholic High School and Nedra attended the all-girls St. Joseph’s Academy, where Richard’s mother, Alice Louise (Buchel) Nesbit, was the 1910 valedictorian.

Richard and Nedra also attended Louisiana State University together. A week after her 1951 graduation from LSU with a B.S. in Home Economics, Richard and Nedra married at the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Baton Rouge. Nedra wore a bridal gown that she designed and made herself. After a brief appearance at their wedding reception held at her Aunt Claire’s home, she and Richard packed their brand new black 1951 Chevy Styleline Deluxe Sedan and drove to California so that Richard could start his job as an engineer at General Dynamics.

Nedra had seven children in eleven years, Michael Alvin, Janine Ann, Stephen Mark, Elaine Louise, Roland Jules, Maria Rose, and Byron Paul. At one point in her life Nedra had five children under the age of five. She was a second mother to many of her children’s friends who came through her door. Her attitude was always – “The more the merrier.”

Since moving to Claremont in 1961, Nedra was an active parishioner at the Our Lady of Assumption Catholic Church in Claremont where she and Richard were a lead couple for the Christian Family Movement. She also was a Bible Study member, and read to the OLA school children and at Mass.

After her children started to attend school, Nedra studied ceramics at Scripps College, at Idyllwild Arts Summer program and under Betty Davenport-Ford in Claremont. She also obtained a Master of Science Degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counselling from the University of La Verne in 1982.

In 1982 Richard and Nedra moved to Camden, Arkansas for Richard’s position as the Vice President and General Manager of the General Dynamics Missile Manufacturing Facility. In Camden she created a beautiful home for Richard and her two youngest children. Three years later, the couple returned to Claremont.

In 1990 after Richard’s retirement, the couple moved to Laupahoehoe on the Big Island of Hawaii. They joined St. Anthony Catholic Church in Papaaloa which sadly burned to the ground shortly thereafter. Both Richard and Nedra were very active members of their new church and facilitated rebuilding the church and making many improvements. They kept their Claremont home and returned frequently for family events and holidays.

Throughout her life, Nedra was a prolific and talented artist. She painted, sculpted, created pottery, painted silk with watercolors, reupholstered furniture and created stunning stained glass. When her children were young, she made matching outfits for Easter and Christmas. To Nedra, art was life. She created items that were not only useful, but also beautiful. She built furniture, designed and sewed beautiful clothing, including wedding gowns for herself and her eldest daughter. Nedra loved to cook Cajun specialties, to dance and to make things grow. She loved gardening and received numerous awards for her plants at local plant shows in the Pomona Valley. Nedra and Richard turned their Claremont property into a beautiful botanical garden, filled with palms, cycads, ferns, orchids and many rare plants admired by all who visited their welcoming home.

Nedra suffered a stroke in late 2013, which paralyzed her right side. After several months of rehab, she came back home and was lovingly cared for by Richard. Their love for each other, all their children, grandchildren and great grand children was evident every day. Whenever they would walk into her room, her eyes would brighten and her arm reaching out for a hug. It was with an amazing endurance that she lived 11 more years.

Nedra and Richard were meant to be together. Nedra was born five days after the love of her life. Richard lived a mere six days after her passing. Theirs was truly a match made in Heaven. Nedra is survived by six of her seven children, 8 grandchildren, Brittany Ann Sciolla, Gia Iku Nesbit, Matthew Stephen Nesbit, Xian Nesbit Chua, Colin Matsumoto Nesbit, Amanda Michelle Woodruff, Brooke Elizabeth Roper and Miya Nesbit Chua. She is also survived by four great grandchildren Archer Cayde Martinez, Emmeline Rose Sciolla, Amelia Rose Woodruff and Ace Aurelius Martinez. Sadly, her youngest daughter, Maria Rose Nesbit, passed away from cancer in 1997.

Nedra and Richard’s final arrangements are being made at Stone Funeral Home in Upland, California. There will be a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Assumption Church, 435 Berkeley Avenue in Claremont on November 30, 2024, at 10:00 AM.