Betty Lou Ostarly Calamari

Betty was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 61 years, Norman Anthony Calamari; her baby daughter, Angelina Calamari; her parents, John and Helen Ostarly; her sisters, Helen O. Strohmeyer, Georgette O. Laciura, and Marion O. Bunny; and her brothers, John Jr., Spencer, Alton, Gwendolyn, Melvin, and Warren Ostarly.

She is survived by her loving children, Cynthia Gerace (Anthony Joseph), Norma Gilly (Frederick), Kathleen Crouch (James), Anthony Calamari, and Todd Calamari (Kendra) as well as her brother, Franklin Ostarly. She was the beloved Maw-Maw to nine grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren.

Betty was a retired school bus driver for Jefferson Parish Schools for over 25 years. In addition, she enjoyed watching Wheel of Fortune, the Lawrence Welk Show, any college or professional sporting event, and she was an avid Notre Dame fan. Betty was a devoted mother to her five children, and she actively assisted in caring for her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She aided in raising her younger siblings when her mother passed at an early age. Her home was the place where extended family often gathered for holidays, celebrations, and weekly meals. Summer weekends were spent with her husband and other relatives at their family camp in Ansley, Mississippi, where there was always laughter, music, and fun.

Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, 3368 Esplanade Ave. in New Orleans, on Monday, October 23, 2023 beginning at 10:00AM. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00PM. The interment will follow the Mass at Cypress Grove Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Betty’s memory to the St. Rosalie Society; one of Betty’s favorite annual events was participating in St. Rosalie Procession and Festival at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Kenner, Louisiana. Contact Mr. Joe Calderera with Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish and the St. Rosalie Society. A donation may also be considered to the Louisiana Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org/louisiana.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff from Passages Hospice. Without their support, we would not have been able to provide at home care for our mother and grandmother.

To view and sign the online guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com