Cornelia Waldrup DeFrances

A longtime resident of Baton Rouge, she died at her home surrounded by her family on Friday, June 3, 2011. Born in Pope, Miss., on Jan. 5, 1917, she was a retired registered nurse who trained at Methodist Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., then served as a U.S. Army surgical nurse during World War II. After raising her family in Baton Rouge, she returned to nursing at the CDU unit of Baton Rouge General Hospital. An active community volunteer, she held membership in the Baton Rouge Eye Bank Auxiliary, Baton Rouge Opera Guild, Volunteers of America, Women's Club, Entre Nous and Iduna. She is survived by her son, E.A. "Tony" DeFrances and his wife, Karen, of Baton Rouge; daughters, Elaine DeFrances Ellis and her husband, Randy, of Baton Rouge, and Charlotte DeFrances McCloud and her husband, Michael, of Seattle; and grandchildren, John Ellis and his wife, Nancy, Tyler DeFrances and his wife, Celeste, and Clayton DeFrances. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Joseph and Cori Claire Ellis, both of Baton Rouge; a brother, James Edd Waldrup, of Batesville, Miss.; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, A.J. "Tony" DeFrances; parents, E.A. "Edd" and Susan Patterson Waldrup; brother, Taylor Joe Waldrup; sisters, Bea Waldrup, Lottie Waldrup Hill, Belma Waldrup Aldridge and Lanell Waldrup Dogan; and granddaughter, Casey DeFrances. Pallbearers will be grandsons, John Ellis, Tyler DeFrances, and Clayton DeFrances, son-in-law, Mike McCloud, nephew, Mack Aldridge, and Lonnie Williams. Visitation will be at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Wednesday, June 8, from noon until service in the chapel at 2 p.m., conducted by the Rev. Donald Blanchard. Entombment will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park Mausoleum. Special thanks to her longtime friend and housekeeper, Australia Baptiste, and her loving caregivers, Doris Stearns and Barbara Estave. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Joseph's Academy, 3015 Broussard St., Baton Rouge, LA 70808; the Eye Bank of Baton Rouge, 5000 Henessey Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70808; or a charity of choice.