Della Bass

Della May Pitre Bass, 80, died Wednesday, January 22, 2014 at 7:40 a.m. at her home. She was a native and resident of Houma, La. and a proud Cajun. Visitation will be held from 8 a.m. until the Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Chauvin Funeral Home, Inc. at 5899 Hwy. 311 Houma, La 70360. Entombment will follow at St. Frances De Sales Cemetery No. 2 Mausoleum. She is survived by her daughters, Crystal Bass Bell and husband, Richard; Kelly Bass Luke and husband Rusty; grandchildren, Brett Bell, Mason Luke, Brooke Bell, Layne Luke, Brenna Bell and Raylyn Luke. She was proceeded in death by her father, Milton Pitre; mother, Emily Guillot Pitre; and her beloved brother, Harold Pitre. She was a lifelong faithful Catholic and a member of St. Bernadette Soubirous Catholic Church. She was a world traveler who visited Italy, France, Cuba, Spain, Greece, England, Mexico, and the Bahamas along with various other cities and countries during her time working at the Conservation Department. Nassua remained her favorite port of call. Most importantly, she was the widow of the late Thomas Lane Bass, who remained the cherished love of her life over 30 years following his passing. Their two daughters were blessed to have this strong willed, feisty, irreplaceable lady as their mother. She remained home to raise her girls upon Tommy's passing until reentering the workforce when her girls entered high school. She proudly worked at Nicholls State University until her retirement. In her later years she spent her time doing the things she enjoyed; tending her garden, spending time with her good friends dancing at Jacks, and visiting with her daughters and grandchildren. She remained a "classy lady" until the end and a truly one-of-a-kind type of woman. Though we, as her daughters, will never live up to the standard she set, we will constantly strive to be half the independent, resilient woman she was. Della was a special Momma who picked up and carried on and showed her girls how to move forward through life's twists and turns. She and her daughters would also like to thank her devoted friends, Myrna Bourg, Ann Mellon, and Eddie Chauvin for true friendship to the family until the end.