Margaret R. Bologna

There is an appointed time for everything, a time to be born and a time to die.

Mrs. Bologna was called to her eternal home on January 6, 2022. She was the third of four daughters born to Mr. and Mrs. Joe B. Ragusa on March 29, 1931. She was reared and educated in Baton Rouge and a member of the 1948 graduating class of St. Joseph’s Academy.

The Ragusa and Bologna families became friends in 1939. She met her future husband, A.J., when she was eight years old, and they later became high school sweethearts. They were married in 1950.

She was also preceded in death by her mother and father, Joseph Benjamin and Josephine Vince Ragusa, and sisters, Carrie Saia, Marie DeBendetto, and Kay Francis, and son in law, Donald Turnley.

In passing she leaves behind her devoted daughters, Mary Ellen Bologna Kopel and her husband, Sam Kopel, and Toni Jo Bologna Turnley; four grandchildren, Cara Turnley Rener (Douglas), Josh Kopel (Katerina), Anthony Turnley (Laura), and Benjamin Kopel (Shana) and five great grandchildren, Miguel Wood, William Wood, Winston Turnley, Harper Kopel, and Milo Kopel, and her dearest friend, Josie Barcelona.

Mrs. Bologna was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother placing her family and faith above all else. She was a member of the Holy Name Society of Our Lady of Mercy, a Monday afternoon adorer, and a member of the Catholic Daughters. She served as Grand Regent for Sacred Heart parish Court Jesu 1893. She founded one of the first carnival balls in Baton Rouge, known as Krewe of Aurora, and served as Captain for ten years. She was a member of the Lazy Daisies at the Baton Rouge Garden Club and enjoyed caring for her home and garden.

Our appreciation to Dr. Bunnie Hill Bologna, her primary physician, her cardiologist, Dr. Darren Breaux and his nurse practitioner, Ms. Sara Frank, NP-C, her faithful “doer of all things”, Ms. Selina Atiyeh, and her caretaker, Mrs. Merian Freeman.

Pall bearers: Josh Kopel, Anthony Turnley, Benjamin Kopel, Douglas Rener, S.J. Saia, Russell Saia, III, Paul Bologna, Robert Aucoin, Brennan Bourg, Sr. and Richard M. Ellis.

Honorary pall bearers: Sam Kopel, Joseph Saffiotti, Vincent Saffiotti, Ted Bryson, Daniel Curry, Sr., David DeBendetto, Matthew Dobbins, Mark Dobbins, Anthony Swearingen, and Stewart Samuels

Visitation will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 11, 2022 from 830a-10am and Mass of Christian burial at 10am followed by entombment at Roselawn Park. Masks are recommended.

She especially loved the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

O Divine Master,

Grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand;

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.