Elizabeth “Bessie” Hamilton Avera, 99, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in Baton Rouge. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, she was born July 16, 1927, to a Cajun French-speaking home in Cecilia, Louisiana. Bessie was valedictorian of her 1944 Cecilia High School graduating class, and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southwestern Louisiana Institute (ULL) in 1948.

She was always grateful for the friends and family that supported her throughout her education, including the teacher who first taught her how to speak English; another who instilled in her a lifelong love of books; those who helped her obtain a college scholarship; and relatives who provided transportation, meals, and a place to live while she obtained her degree at SLI. She worked in Lafayette for Arkansas Fuel Co., and briefly taught adult education classes for returning WWII soldiers before marrying William J. Avera. The two had a memorable 56-year life together after settling in Baton Rouge, and raised their family on the edge of the LSU campus.

Bessie is survived by seven children and their spouses, William J. “Buster” and Robbin Avera, Cut Off; Dixie A. and Andrew Karnowski, Overland Park, Kansas; David W. and Carolyn Avera, Baton Rouge; Catherine A. and Keith Lauter Sr., Baton Rouge; Lucy A. and Ross Perry, Kansas City, Missouri; John A. and Michelle Avera, Baton Rouge; and Mary A. and Robert Addison, Sunshine; and 13 grandchildren, Francine Avera; Grace Karnowski and Alden Karnowski; Keith Lauter Jr., Lara L. Robinson (Brock), and Scott Lauter; William Avera (Karla), Caroline A. Curtis (Dalton), Mary Frances Avera, and Thomas Avera; Genevieve A. Jock (Dustin), Leslie A. Savoy (Jacob), and Will Addison (Courtney); and 17 great-grandchildren, Blair Cortez; Nolan, Marshall, and Mila Avera; Henry and Lola Curtis; Ava, Emmett, Vivian, Calvin, and Louis Jock; Margot and Blythe Savoy; Liam, Isla, Eris, and Cali Addison; and two more to come. Bessie is also survived by her brother James “Jim” Hamilton and his wife Betty.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Justin Avera Sr., granddaughter Adelaide Avera, and infant grandsons, John Hamilton Avera and Kurt McMichael Lauter, as well as her parents Carson and Laurence Angelle Hamilton, brother Leroy, brother David and wife Lona, and sisters Leola Guidry and husband Stephens, Elsie Judice and husband James, Odile Roberts and husband Irvin, and Agnes LeBlanc and husband Donald.

Bessie worked for many years as a secretary, for oil companies in Lafayette as well as for the State of Louisiana in the Secretary of State’s Office. She worked on the LSU campus, in the Continuing Education Department; the Paul M. Hebert Law Center admissions office; and in the CEBA School of Business, until her retirement.

Bessie loved to laugh and passed that love of laughter on to her family. There was no greater pleasure for her than holding a baby in her arms. She was an excellent cook and seamstress; loved her family dearly; reread her favorite Southern novels more than once; and completed word puzzles daily. She loved seashells and beach trips. She loved sports of all kinds and avidly followed LSU sports, especially Tiger baseball.

Bessie and Bill enjoyed traveling the U.S. and marveling together at its immense beauty. She was a longtime member of St. Agnes Catholic Church and St. Gabriel Catholic Church. Bessie’s Catholic faith was central to her life, and she prayed for her loved ones daily. “Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure.”

Special thanks to Dr. Michael Rolfsen and Bessie’s dear friends Carey, Charna, and Debbie of Hospice of Baton Rouge, as well as the entire staff at Glenncrest at Siegen, where she lived the last two months. Your warmth and kindness toward Bessie will never be forgotten. “It is not how much you do, but how much love you put in the doing.”

A memorial mass will be held at 11 a.m., on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church, St. Gabriel, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or your favorite charity.