Patricia Ann Bell Bradley

June 21, 1929 - July 31, 2021

Our Mother, Patricia Ann Bell Bradley, entered heaven with her hands empty after giving her all at the age of 92 on July 31, 2021. Patricia was the most devoted of wives, nurturing of mothers, loving of grandmothers, devout of Catholics, supportive of friends, and kindest and compassionate of human beings. She always made the listener feel like the most important person in the world. If love was an indication of wealth, Patricia was rich indeed. Survivors include eight of her biological children, namely, daughters, Elizabeth Ann Bradley, Monica Tauzin and her husband Kevin, and Angie Moreau and her husband Andre, all of Lafayette; five sons, Stephen Bradley, Phillip Bradley, Timothy Bradley and his wife Marcia, Brian Bradley and Colin Bradley, all of Lafayette; an adopted son, Walter "Yank" Rippas and his wife Dawn, of Lafayette; three foster children, Freida Barnard of Florida, Bobbi Rue of Lafayette, and Gwen Gros of Lafayette, daughter-in-law, Gina Breaux Bradley; and her brother, George Bell and his wife Carol of Southport, North Carolina. Patricia is also survived by 23 grandchildren: Micheline Saucier Torres and her husband Jean; Austin, Morgan, George, Belle and Lafayette Saucier, Jr., Brandon Bradley and his wife Shellie, Katelyn Bradley Townley and her husband Adam, Jillian Bradley, Genna Bradley Moorefield and her husband Joseph, Jonathan and Alana Bradley, Colin Bradley, Jr., Chauncey Bradley, Chelcee Bradley Humphrey and her husband Joshua, Tyler and Francesca Tauzin, Caroline Tauzin Ramos and her husband Igor, Camille and Joel Moreau, Brandi Vincent, Katherine Rippas Cordes, Liz Rippas Hebert; great grandchildren Elle Bradley, Vivian Torres, Lily-Cait Bradley, Alice Bradley, Finn Bradley, Remi Townley, Bryce Townley, Jeramiah Humphrey, Clementine Saucier, Emile Saucier and Rafe Moorefield, and by her godchildren, Karen Bell Fitzgerald and Mike Yazbeck. She also leaves behind her best friend and caretaker of 9 years, Gladys Bellard. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Seymour Bradley; her parents, George Bell and Ann Ritz Bell; her sons, Kevin Patrick Bradley and Christopher Shawn Bradley, her brother, Richard Bell and sister, Jacqueline Bell Fruge. Patricia Bell was born on June 21, 1929 in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. She spent her formative years in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and was a resident of Lafayette, Louisiana, for the past 56 years. She began her journey south in January, 1950. At this time, she was a lay apostolate for the Catholic church and attended SLI (now ULL) while doing God’s work with Wisdom Catholic Church on campus. It was here that she met the love of her life, George Bradley, and they were married for 62 years until he was called to the Lord in 2013. As she reared her children, Patricia was a community leader whose work included teaching at her children’s school as a substitute and as a CCD teacher and volunteering at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church including as a Eucharistic minister. As the children grew, Patricia went back to school and became a licensed practical nurse, taking care of many sick and elderly throughout her career. In her retirement years, Patricia worked alongside her husband George at Bradley Abstracting and was endeared to all of the courthouse staff in many South Louisiana parishes. To know Patricia is to love Patricia. Patricia was playful, cheerful, joyful and a hopeless romantic. More significantly, she was also a living testimony of faith. She talked to God daily and that is one of the many things that made her so lovely. She believed that an intimate friendship with the Lord was far more important and precious than any of the goods of this world. Not only did she live with love but she thrived to expand and stretch it beyond imagination in order to become a vessel of light for so many. She was very active in, and an integral part of, the early days of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement in both Green Bay and Lafayette. She was a soldier for social justice and had a progressive mindset. Her passion was supported by the Grail, an international women’s organization of which she was a member from 1948, until to her death. She and George’s life was in service to Christ. In the 1950’s, they visited several college campuses running a Christian family center (Ignatius House). They dedicated their lives to promoting the Catholic faith through service with a mission to build the church through the lay apostolate. She touched the lives of so many who were enveloped by her glowing spirit. She said “yes” day after day and she said “yes” until there were no days left. Patricia’s life was a life of surrender. She always put herself last. Some of her regular mantras were: Do unto me according to Your will; Let Go, Let God; This too shall pass; Carpe Diem; and love for love’s sake. The family would like to thank all those with Hospice of Acadiana as well as the staff at Cedar Crest Memory Care Facility, and the medical staff at Oschner’s LGMC for their kind and compassionate care. A very special acknowledgment goes to the incredible Dr. Angela Snow and caretakers, Gladys Bellard and Theresa Meche. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, August 5, 2021, at a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at Our Lady of Wisdom Church. On Thursday, visitation will begin at Our Lady of Wisdom Church at 9:00 AM with a Rosary at 9:30 AM followed by her eulogy. Pallbearers will be Stephen Bradley, Phillip Bradley, Timothy Bradley, Brian Bradley, Colin Bradley, Walter “Yank” Rippas, and Eric Waltner. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Patricia Bradley's name to Hospice of Acadiana as well as the Ragin Cajun Catholics Ministry at Our Lady of Wisdom or any of the programs supported by The Grail . View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311