Nun and author

BATON ROUGE – Services were Tuesday for author and Sister of St. Joseph Eleanor Bernstein (formerly known as Sister Caritas). She died March 12 at age 72.

She taught seven years at St. Joseph Academy in New Orleans and was director of liturgy at churches in Baton Rouge, Metairie and Lake Charles before becoming director of the Center for Pastoral Liturgy at the University of Notre Dame of more than 10 years. She left that post for congregational leadership in Cleveland, Ohio where she assisted for five years in the reconfiguration process. She was a writer and editor, her work including a complete set of office books.

Survivors include a sister.

Arrangements were by Rabenhorst.

Former Rice Festival president

CROWLEY – Services will be Friday for civic leader Rita Nicholson. She died March 20 at age 87.

She was the first woman president of the International Rice Festival and was the city’s federal grants coordinator for 14 years. She was executive secretary of Selective Service in Acadia Parish for more than 40 years.

Survivors include two sons.

Arrangements are by Geesey-Ferguson.

Long-time minister

LAFAYETTE – Services for long-time Presbyterian minister the Rev. Gaylord Dodgen will be Thursday. He died March 19 at age 77.

He pastored Trinity Presbyterian in Baton Rouge for man years and also pastored in Thibodaux, Amite and Lafayette.

Survivors include wife Lanez, three sons and a daughter.

Arrangements are by Delhomme.

Former LSU official

BATON ROUGE – Services for former LSU Director of Student Employment Virgie Heck will be Wednesday. She died March 17 at age 94.

She was also an author and publisher.

Survivors include a sister.

Distinguished teacher

BATON ROUGE – Services for former LSU lab school faculty member and distinguished teacher Elena LeBlanc will be in Haslett, Mich., where she died March 19 at age 99.

She taught in public schools in Evangeline, Lafourche and East Baton Rouge Parishes before joining LSU, where she was a distinguished English teacher and a Wall Street Journal Scholar. She was a charter member of the school’s Peabody Society and a member of the LSU Alumni Hall of Distinction.

Survivors include a son, Albert H. LeBlanc, Jr.

Arrangements are by Palmer Bush.

Westinghouse exec

CHENEYVILLE – Graveside services for former Westinghouse executive Charlds Paine will be Saturday. He died March 15 in Jackson, Miss., at age 90.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Pacific Theater, World War II and of the Korean War. He retired as vice president of Westinghouse’s Southeastern Region.

Survivors include his wife, Catherine, two sons and a daughter.