Rita Rose Marie "Ganie" Bossier-Pastorek

“She is fearfully and wonderfully made.” -Psalm 139:14 Rita Rose Marie “Ganie” Bossier-Pastorek was fearfully and wonderfully made, known, and loved by God. The Matriarch of the Pastorek family went home to her heavenly reward on December 20, 2024, surrounded by her family and caregivers. She was 95, a faithful servant of God, whose family was her legacy. Visitation will be at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, 445 Marquette Ave., Baton Rouge, LA, on December 27, 2024, from 9:00am until the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am, celebrated by Rev. Cleo Milano. Inurnment will immediately follow in the family plot at Greenoaks Memorial Park. Rose is survived by her children, Joe Pastorek and wife, Pat, Alba Marie “Rietzi” Pastorek, and John Pastorek and wife, Jackie; grandchildren, Jordan Pastorek and wife, Laura, Aimee Goodier and husband, Michael, and Ashley Felton and husband, Willy; great-grandchildren, Anna, Michael, and Lexi Goodier, Nathaniel, Eli, and Jacob Felton, and Jack, Lacey, and Lindsey Pastorek; sister-in-law, Joann Bossier; and many nieces and nephews. Rose is preceded in death by her devoted husband of 51 years, John Joseph “Jack” Pastorek; parents, Albert Louis and Alba Marie Bossier; grandsons, Jody, Jeremy, and Jeffrey Pastorek; sisters, Muriel Amedee, and Bernice Breaud; brother, Albert Louis Bossier, Jr.; brothers-in-law, Roy Amedee, and Tony Breaud; and a brother-in-law and his wife, Richard and Marilyn Pastorek. She was born March 7, 1929, in Gramercy, LA, grew up in St. James Parish and went to nursing school. She married the love of her life, “Jack,” on July 10, 1949, at St. Joseph Church in Paulina. They would eventually settle and raise their family in Baton Rouge as one of the original families to build in the Broadmoor subdivision. Jack worked for Esso, which later became Exxon-Mobil. They befriended a group of company families, eventually forming the “Asterisk” Social Club, with their friends: the Geisers, the Longmires, the Aillets, the Singers, the Galeys, the Foys, the Buddens, the Smiths, the Nobles. Rose was a homemaker, an avid reader, and a world traveler. She and Jack traveled the world, as he worked for Exxon on loan to refinery start-ups in Italy, Argentina, Singapore, and Malaysia. She recently said her top three destinations were Florence, Italy, where she and Jack befriended Renaissance man, Ilario Bonnelli. They would partner with Muriel, Roy, Pat, and Janie Amedee to open Bonnelli of Florence, a fine Italian leather goods boutique in New Orleans. At number two-Hong Kong, where she was on a first name basis with shopkeepers at her favorite shops. And number three-Ephesus, Turkey, where she was inspired by the prayers and stories of St. Paul and the Blessed Virgin Mary. She gained the reputation as a “Roamin’ Catholic,” as she continued traveling well into her 90s, with her cruisin’ sisters, Rietzi and Joan Harrison. She was a woman of deep faith, a founding member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church, and a devout member of Our Lady of Mercy.

She lived out her faith by supporting many causes and religious groups from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul to St. Jude. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to St. Vincent de Paul, St. Jude and Our Lady of Mercy. The family would like to give special and heartfelt thanks to their incredible neighbor, Susan Nichols, the wonderful caregivers, Carrie McBride, Loice Allen, Patricia Warren, Chiquita Underwood, who were like a second family to Rose, and the team at Heart of Hospice, especially Myesha Jones. Mama, thanks for giving us life, loving us and leading us to Jesus Christ through your light, love and grace. Mother Teresa was no doubt talking about you when she said, “Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.” Thanks for leaving us better, happier and bringing us closer to God. You are a rose that will continue to bloom in our hearts and our garden of life. We love you and will never forget you! Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.greenoaksfunerals.com