Lena Mae Marino Salpietra Polite, 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and close friends on July 7, 2022. Born to Lawrence & Mary Ragusa Marino on September 25, 1931, she was a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge, a graduate of Istrouma High School, and received a full scholarship to Southeastern Louisiana University. She was a graduate of Baton Rouge Business College. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and friend. She is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Mary Ragusa Marino, brothers, Joseph Marino, Sr. and Samuel J. Marino, Sr., her daughter, Carolyn Ann Salpietra, her husband, Webb J. Polite, Jr. and her son-in-law, Steven Lastrapes. She is survived by her children, Lena Marie Lastrapes, Gerri Mackey, Joseph A. Salpietra, Jr. (Kathryn), Ronald J. Salpietra (Sabrina), and Donald A. Salpietra (Alicia). She was proud of her grandchildren, Gene Eichelberger (Kathy), Jana Latiolais, Jodi Perez (Bart), Ashley Mackey Daigle (Sweet Chris), Aimee Mackey Gaudet, MD (Matthew); Anne Marie Duffield (Carl), Jordan Salpietra (Bethany), Jason Salpietra, DVM; Chase Salpietra (Lindsey), Cody Salpietra (Courtney), Rachel Salpietra, Marlana Salpietra, and Travis Gilmore (Jennifer); and her great-grandchildren Ali, Kelsey, Keaton, Kinley, Wade, Cameron, Kailyn, Simone, Vivienne, Charles, Abraham, Remington Rose, Aubrey, Wesley, Caysie, Cade, Jude and Ella. She was a devout Catholic who loved and glorified the Lord as a parishioner of St. Patrick’s Church, where she served as a Eucharistic Minister, on the Altar Society, as a tabulator, and attended many Bible Studies. She loved to recite the rosary daily, but most of all, she was always willing to help others in need of physical or spiritual care. She was also a member for over forty (40) years of the Grandson’s/Granddaughter’s of Italy and worked faithfully on the St. Joseph’s Altar every year. She loved family more than anything and enjoyed making meatballs, Italian fig cookies and Italian olives with her children and grandchildren.
Pallbearers are Jordan Salpietra, Chase Salpietra, Gene Eichelberger, Chris Daigle, Wade Latiolais, Cameron Perez, Samuel J. Marino, Jr., Lawrence A. Marino, and Travis Gilmore. Honorary pallbearers, Matthew Gaudet, MD, Gerald Barber, MD and Russell Marino.
A special thanks to her loving caregivers, Martina Jones and Vanessa L. Ross who were with her till the very end. Thanks to her sitter, Marilyn Quinones (Madelyn), Amedysis Hospice, and in particular her aide, Toni, nurses, Tilly and Amy, and social worker, Tricia.
Funeral services will be held at Rabenhorst East Funeral Home, 11000 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70815, on Friday, July 15, 2022, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. and viewing at St. Patrick’s Church on Saturday, July 16, 2022, from 9 a.m. until a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 12424 Brogdon Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70816. Burial to follow at Greenoaks, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70815. (Weather permitting) In lieu of flowers a donation to The Alzheimer’s Foundation or a charity of your choice is appreciated.
