Gertrude L. Andrus Danna, 92, of Vidor, died Wednesday, December 19, 2012, at Christus Hospital St. Elizabeth, Beaumont. She was born on May 6, 1920 in Crowley, Louisiana, to Etha Faulk Andrus and Milton R. Andrus.
Gertrude was a dedicated wife to Frank for sixty-nine years and mother to her eight children. She continued her care and commitment to her multitude of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
Gertrude had a great desire for making things and giving them away to family and friends. She was an artist of many mediums from crochet, knit and tatting, to designing and sewing clothes, to making and painting ceramics. Many of which she won awards. Even though she only completed up to the 8th grade in school, she was a self taught avid reader, learned to drive in her forties and learned to swim later in life.
Gertrude became a teacher in her later years to share her talents with others with exercising, crochet, and ceramic classes at the Best Years Center in Beaumont.
She was a very active and dedicated Catholic, as you can tell by her eight children. Gertrude touched many lives with her spirit and drive. She will be missed by many.
Survivors include her children, Frank P. Danna and his wife, Glenda, of Lufkin; Judy Danna of Vidor; Milton Danna and his wife, Cinda, of Jasper; Michael Danna and his wife, Rene, of LaBelle; John Danna and his wife, Connie, of Kountze; Clara Downs and her husband, Brad, of Vidor; Carmello Danna and his wife, Geneva, of Lumberton; and Carlo Danna and his wife, Linda, of Bridge City; twenty grandchildren, Frank Paul Danna IV, Catherine Eileen Danna Cordes, Michael Neil Danna, Chad Danna, Nikki Danna, Daniel Danna, Angela Danna, Alyssa Michelle Danna, John Danna Jr., Robert Danna, Christopher Danna, Camello Danna Jr., Crystal Danna, Joshua Danna, Brad Downs Jr., Latisha Downs Sodolak, Brook Downs Mahan, Allen Danna, Cara Danna Nguyen , Tishauna Danna Gibson; thirty-six great-grandchildren, Madix Kaid Gibson, Destiny Lynn Middleton, Molly Ann Danna, Chelsie Ann Danna, Luke Michael Sodolak, Makayla Nguyen, Noah Cole Sodolak, Tabitha Leanna Danna, Rebecca Nickol Downs, Alexis Nicole Danna, Shelby Overgaard, Paisley Ann Danna, Danica Rian Johnson, Austyn Lee Jade Middleton, Bradford Downs Jr., Tyler Danna, Micayla Rose Danna, Sam Rivers Mahan, Max Ryan Mahan, David Taylor Danna, Michael Heathcock, Richard Heathcock, Lily Claire Sodolak, Jud Ryder Mahan, Dominick Edward Danna, Colton Wayne Danna, Ohna Danna, Ty Danna, Victoria Lea Downs, Briann Danna, Haley Ray Danna, Cade Nolan Danna, Kelsi Joy Danna, David Heathcock, Christopher Keith Danna Jr., and Jessica Ann Danna; and two great-great-grandchildren. Kaylee Danna and Kyleigh Renae Heathcock.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Frank P. Danna, Jr.; and grandchild, April Danna.
A Christian Vigil for Mrs. Danna will begin at 6:00 p.m., with a gathering of her family and friends to follow until 8:00 p.m., Friday, December 21, 2012, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, December 22, 2012, at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica, 700 Jefferson Street, Beaumont, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Department 142, Memphis, Tennessee 38148 or visit www.stjude.org.
