Bena Sotile Matassa

Matthew 25:23, His master replied, “Well done good and faithful servant!” A lifetime resident of Donaldsonville, Bena Sotile Matassa passed away peacefully at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge on Saturday, January 3, 2015. She was born February 21, 1925, the fourth child of Rosa and Frank Sotile, Sr. She was a past co-owner of Matassa Furniture and Donaldsonville Sears and Roebuck Catalog store. She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Joseph Matassa, Jr.; daughter, Anne Reeves and husband Edwin; sons, Joey and wife Chris, Kenny and wife Selma, David and wife Ramona and Michael; grandchildren, Aron and wife, Carrie, Kendal and wife, Michelle, Tony and wife, Candyse, James and wife, Bonnie, Nicolas and wife, Ann, Lauren and husband, Mark, Natalie and husband, Jason, Shelley and husband, Armin, Trey, Beverly and husband, Beau, Christopher and wife, Kari, Sean, and Corrine; great grandchildren, Andrew, Reid, Jay, Luke, Lillian, Michael, Caroline, Kaleb, Christopher, Jewel, Caitlyn, Chance, Isabella, Ava, Anna Kate, Emmett, Oliver, and Cecile; sister, Rose Marie Sheppard; and sister-in-law, Loretta Tripode Sotile.

Preceded in death by her parents, Rosa Mistretta and Frank Sotile, Sr.; siblings, Concetta, Vincent, Frank, and Laura; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph and Rosa Matassa; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Philip and Lucille Matassa; and great grandson, Jacob Matassa.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at Ascension of Our Lord Catholic Church in Donaldsonville at 1:00 p.m. Entombment to follow in church mausoleum. Arrangements under the direction of Ourso Funeral Home in Donaldsonville.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Honorary pallbearers will be, Jason Maxwell, Beau Greene, Mark Josephs, and Armin Reiser.

Family would like to give a special thanks to, Dr. Giarusso, Dr. Surakanti, the staff of Our Lady of the Lake Hospital, her sitters, Ke-Ke and Rose, and her home health nurse Audra.

In lieu of flowers, family request donations be made to the Seelos Center, 2030 Constance St., New Orleans, La 70130.