Bruce Fontana

Published 8:48 am Friday, July 31, 2015

Bruce Paul Fontana, age 66, a resident of Franklinton, died at 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at Tulane Medical Center. He was a native and longtime resident of New Orleans, where he retired as a paramedic and fireman with the New Orleans Fire Department.

Bruce was a member of Hays Creek Southern Baptist Church, where he often helped with Vacation Bible School and made beignets and funnel cakes for others. He volunteered at the sugar cane syrup mill in Mile Branch Settlement, and because he was a master gardener he was put in charge of the settlement’s landscaping for this upcoming year. Bruce also volunteered with Hillcrest Baptist Church, distributing Thanksgiving meals each year to those in need. He was a member of the chainsaw crew with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Team and just recently was appointed as a chaplain for the team.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Ranee Fontana of Franklinton; his children, Tanya and William Raynard, Nina Fontana, Bonnie Pendleton, Jennifer Pendleton, Tabitha and Scott Stevens, Katera and Ray Burris, Faith and Brandon Fisher and Stephen Athey; his grandchildren, Brandon, Christopher, Olivia, Cody, Tristan, Benjamin and Rashaun; his great-grandson, James; his sister and brother-in-law, Sharon and Rob Marshall; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Eola Billiot Fontana; and grandsons, Austin James Guiterrez and Gary Trey Athey.

Visitation will be at Crain Funeral Home on Friday, July 31, 2015, from 9 a.m. until the funeral service at 1 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Rick Elder and the Rev. Fredrick Brumfield officiating. Burial will follow in the Fontana Cemetery near his home.

The obituary can be viewed online at www.crainfh.com.