Janet Neyland Ortego

Funeral Mass for Janet Neyland Ortego, formerly of Plaucheville, will begin at 11:00am on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church in Plaucheville with Fr. Martin Laird officiating. Entombment will follow at the Mater Dolorosa Cemetery. 

Visitation will begin at 9:00am until 11:00am on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Church in Plaucheville. Rosary prayer will begin just before Mass. 

Janet Neyland Ortego, age 90, died at her daughter’s home in Baton Rouge surrounded by her family on Wednesday, December 11th, 2024. She was born on May 27, 1934, to the late Emma and Lawrence Neyland. She is also preceded in death by her loving husband of 57 years, Franklin Ortego; her three sisters, Rita Riche, Wilma Saucier, and Mackie English; and her brother, Robert Neyland. 

She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl England of Baton Rouge; son, Chris Ortego of Breaux Bridge. She is also survived by her son-in-law, Skip Clark; three grandchildren, Rachel Orillion, Destin Ortego, and Alexis Ortego; and two great-grandchildren, Willow and Iris Ortego. 

Janet was the Town Clerk of Plaucheville for 20 years and then worked in administration for the State Department of Corrections for 10 years. Being a devout Catholic, Janet held her religion close to her heart. She was an avid gardener, and people would stop and ask to take photos of her flower gardens. Lawncare on her riding mower was one of her favorite activities. Her most precious gift in life was her family, and spending time with them was always her first choice! She loved people and had many friends, whom she always had time for. She loved bird-watching and listening to them sing. She had a collection of gorgeous ceramic birds and viewing them gave her peace! Her mac & cheese, cornbread dressing, and homemade cakes were the ultimate best and will be hard to duplicate! There was no flower she didn’t love, and floral arrangements always brought a smile to her face! A favorite pastime was playing cards and dominoes. She was also a great seamstress and created many beautiful things and sewed many quilts.

She was a very strong and disciplined person who took all her hardships in stride without complaint, but she also celebrated her life’s joys with great enthusiasm! She was an amazing mother who protected her children & grandchildren like a Mama Bear! While her name was spelled Janet, she was also known as “Jeanette” and “Maw Net”. She has left “shoes” that will be hard to fill and a huge hole in the lives of her family and friends. She is also survived by several nieces whom she had a special bond with and described them as her “other daughters”.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Escude Funeral Home (318-964-2324) 552 Front St. Cottonport, LA 71327.