Dearlene Louise Lance

January 30, 1938 - January 17, 2022

Dearlene of Covington, LA, loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, died peacefully in her sleep on January 17, 2022. "Dee" was born January 30, 1938 to Dearl and Bessie Lance. She spent most of her younger years growing up in Rose Hill, Kansas, where she graduated from high school in 1956. Dee then enrolled at Wesley School of Nursing in Wichita, KS, graduating in 1959. Dee loved being a nurse; she worked the ER, and OB, where she quit counting the babies she delivered after number 50. Dee moved into Administration at Ochsner Medical Center where she was Director of Nursing for 16 years. She also taught Nursing and spoke all over the US and Canada helping to improve nursing care in hospital settings. Dee was instrumental in creating and implementing Ochsner Total Health 65. Her love though was Psychiatry. She started her career in psychiatry and ended as a Psych Nurse at Ochsner Hospital at the age of 75. Dee was known for her vibrant personality and love of life. She also had a passion for cooking, which she loved to share with friends and family. Her laughter and her wonderful smile will be remembered by many friends and family who loved her dearly. Dee leaves behind two daughters, Cheryl Hamilton of Covington, LA and Michelle Hamilton (Dewey Averett) of Loranger, LA; grandchildren, Adrianne Herbert, Julia (Chris), Greg Herbert, Ethan Duzman; great-grandchildren, Hunter, Braya, Amari; sister, Donna Cox-Leonard (Chuck) of Wichita, KS; brother, Larry Lance (Sue) of Dataw Island, SC; and many loving nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend a visitation from the chapel of Brandon G. Thompson Funeral Home at 12012 Hwy 190 W Hammond, LA 70401 on Wednesday, January 26, 2022 from 10:00 a.m. until the funeral service at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow in Averett Family Cemetery.