Carole Ann Bourgeois

Carole Ann Bourgeois, 87, of Clinton, MS, formerly of Ocean Springs, MS, passed away on Friday, February 2, 2024 in Clinton.

Carole was born on October 16, 1936 in New Orleans, LA to William Joseph and Anna (Hebert) Finnorn. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s Dominican, “Dominican”, Catholic High School. She completed several English classes at North Texas State University (now University of North Texas) and at several other community colleges during her travels as a military wife and attended Mrs. Kungson’s Chinese Cooking Course in Tachikawa, Japan. Carole was given the “Best Mom Award” from her children.

Carole enjoyed cooking, painting and traveling with her husband of 67 years in June, Jerry Bourgeois. She wrote columns for different papers and newsletters at most of the duty stations the Air Force sent her family. Her world travels included Jamaica, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Hong Kong, China, Germany, Luxembourg, let’s say most of Europe, Morocco, Mexico, Canada, Hawaii and Alaska. One of her favorite trips was to Europe with her sister Patsy (Patricia) and her husband William (Bill) Gaudin.

Carole was a loving and supportive wife of a career Air Force officer during his 28 years of service. She was a devoted parishioner at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, in Ocean Springs, MS for 43 years. Carole had a love for words, the English language (always correcting the English grammar of her children through adulthood, ha ha), teaching English to Japanese students while living in Japan, music and she was a staunch backer of the Republican Party and conservative views.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Joseph and Anna (Hebert) Finnorn; her husband, Gerald “Jerry” Bourgeois; her brother, Frank (Helen) Finnorn; her sister, Patricia (William) Gaudin; her brothers-in-law, William (Claire) Bourgeois, Eugene (Gladys) Bourgeois, Richard (Marie) Norton and Anthony “Tony” Giovenco; and her parents-in-law, Camille Antoine and Hilda Mire Bourgeois.

Carole is survived by her children, Yvette (Mario) DeSanctis, Suzanne (Ed) Milam, Gerald "Jay" (Renae) Bourgeois, II and David (Elise) Bourgeois; her grandchildren, Mario (Justine) DeSanctis, Jr., Caroline DeSanctis, Enrico DeSanctis, Regina (Matt) Meyers, Katy Milam, Sarah Milam, Whitney (Luke) Donovan, Lindsey Bourgeois, Sydney Bourgeois, Collin Bourgeois, Gavin Bourgeois and Marie Bourgeois; her great-grandchildren, Mia DeSanctis, Antonio DeSanctis, Marley Jo Schwartz, Matthieu Bourgeois; and her sister-in-law, Carolyn Giovenco.

In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation, https://www.apdaparkinson.org or American Parkinson Disease Association P.O. Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306 or by email: apda@apdaparkinson.org

The family would like to extend a special thank you to all our family, friends and Carole and Jerry’s friends for their support during this time.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church on Friday, February 9, 2024 at 1:00 pm. Friends may visit from 12:30 pm until Mass time. Interment will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Carole Ann Bourgeois.