Catherine Elizabeth "Betty" Kleinpeter Kershaw

"Catherine Elizabeth "Betty" Kleinpeter Kershaw passed away peacefully at her home on November 7, 2018.  Betty was a lifelong resident of Baton Rouge. She was 86, born December 4th, 1931. Betty was number nine of eleven children born to her parents, Leon "Papa" Kleinpeter and Lillian "Nang" Gibbens. She was a proud alumnus of St. Joseph's Academy and LSU.  She was a parishioner of Most Blessed Sacrament and devoted and dedicated to her Catholic faith.  There are no words to express the depth of kindness and generosity that Betty shared with her family and friends. She made everyone she came in contact with feel seen, loved, and important. To be a friend of hers was to be a friend for life. She loved books and was a lifelong learner, always eager to share a book recommendation with others. She had a deep soul but knew how to have fun and laugh long and hard. She often entertained her grandchildren with stories of her childhood and youth. The hole that she leaves in her family and community will be deeply felt, but the legacy that she leaves will live on forever. She has left a lasting mark on the world.  Betty is survived by her children, Donald Paul Kershaw, Jr. (Starline), Kathryn Kershaw Borek, Christopher Kershaw (Dawn) and Andrew Kershaw (Cherly), her grandchildren, Joshua Gonzales, Christine Kershaw Rittell (John Paul), Sarah Kershaw, Rachael Borek, Jude Kershaw, Cole Kershaw, Serena Kershaw and Emi Kershaw, and her great grandchildren, Evangeline "Evie" Rittell and John Paul Rittell, Jr.  She is also survived by her siblings, Constance "Connie" LeGlue and Lawrence "Larry" Kleinpeter.  Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Donald Kershaw, and her grandchildren, Jennifer Gonzales and Christopher "Chuca Boy" Borek.  She was also preceded in death by her siblings, Leon "Big Boy" Kleinpeter, Jr., Frances Wray, Mary "Peenie" Broussard, Thomas "Tom" Kleinpeter, Martha Eleanor Lawrence, Durbin "Ben" Kleinpeter, Vincent "Bobo" Kleinpeter, and Francis "Mike" Kleinpeter.  Visitation will be held at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on Monday, November 12, 2018, from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, followed by Mass of Christian Burial, officiated by Fr. Phil Spano. Interment will follow at St. George Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Cole Kershaw, Brandon Kershaw, Martin Kleinpeter, Steve Kleinpeter, George Barber and Chuck Davis. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Joseph's Academy or Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.  The Kershaw Family would like to thank the staff at Audubon Hospice for their loving care provided to Betty.  Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, in charge of arrangements.