Bernadette Carla Costa Legoria

Bernadette Carla Costa Legoria passed away on Tuesday, February 21, 2023, in Hammond, Louisiana, at the age of 78. She was born on Tuesday, January 2, 1945 in Independence, Louisiana to the late Rosalie "Lillie" Schiro Costa and the late Frank Costa, who immigrated from Palazzo Adriano, Sicily, Italy. She was a resident of Hammond, Louisiana.  

Bernadette is survived by her husband of 59 years, Joseph "Joe" Legoria, Sr.; children, Joseph "Joey" Legoria, Jr., Ph.D and his wife, Mary Ph.D, and Jennifer Legoria Ingraffia and her husband, Roy "Butch"; grandchildren, Lawrence Ingraffia, Dr. Patrick Ingraffia, and Caroline Ingraffia; sisters, Joann Zeringue and Kathleen McClain; sisters-in-law, Virginia Vutera and Shirley Legoria; brother-in-law, Frank Legoria; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Bernadette was also preceded in death by her infant daughter, Lauren Legoria; and her sisters, Marianne Catalano, Veta Costanza, Phyne Liuzza, and Frances Bordelon.

Bernadette was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. In her younger years, she enjoyed attending LSU Football games with her husband and her two children. She was a very dedicated and passionate educator of 44 years and worked well beyond retirement age because of her love for teaching. Bernadette loved cooking Italian cuisine and baking Italian Christmas cookies. In her later years, she also loved going to the casino with her husband and eating crabs on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Bernadette enjoyed her crafts, such as sewing, painting, and restoring antiques and furniture.  She also loved hosting family gatherings. Most of all Bernadette loved her family and was very proud of all of the accomplishments of her children and grandchildren.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the visitation at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 600 North Oak Street, Hammond, Louisiana 70401, on Friday, February 24, 2023, beginning at 9:00 AM until the funeral mass begins at 11:00 AM.  

Interment will follow in Rose Memorial Park Cemetery, Hammond, Louisiana.