Obituary

Dr. William Anthony Ferrante

March 7, 1934 - January 6, 2023

Dr. William Anthony Ferrante, age 88 and of Franklinton, Louisiana, died January 6, 2023, at his home. Dr. Ferrante was born on March 7, 1934, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Michele and Felicia (Artall) Ferrante, both predeceased.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Judith Bulcao Ferrante, and their 5 children, Deborah Ferrante Alline (Mike Alline), William Anthony Ferrante, Jr. (Kristi), David Michael Ferrante-Alan (Aaron), Douglas Woodham Ferrante, Andrew Artall Ferrante (Shelley), 13 grandchildren (Rachael Ferrante Gaudet (Gerard), Justine Williamson Crooks (Michael), Rebecca Ferrante Unger (Jordan), Allison Graffeo Dubuc (Daniel), Brady Ferrante Williamson, Dante William Ferrante, Felica Christine Ferrante, Lydia Helen Strawn, William Michael Ferrante, Caroline Kay Ferrante, Cecilia Bulcao Ferrante, Sofia Ann Ferrante and Carly Amanda Ferrante and 7 great grandchildren.

Dr. Ferrante attended Melville High School in Melville, Louisiana. He continued his education at Tulane University, where he obtained his degree in pre-medicine and then he attended Tulane University Medical School. He graduated from Tulane Medical School in 1959. He completed his internship and at Charity Hospital and his residency in Internal Medicine and Fellowship in Gastroenterology, at Ochsner Foundation Hospital

While at Ochsner Foundation Hospital for 29 years, he was Head of the Department of Gastroenterology for 25 of them. After leaving Ochsner, he worked as the Head of the Department of Gastroenterology at Baptist Hospital for 8 years. He completed his career serving for 12 years as Head of Training at the LSU School of Medicine. In addition to his long and distinguished career of 50+ years practicing and teaching medicine, he also served as Clinical Professor of the LSU School of Medicine (43 years) and the Tulane School of Medicine (25 years)

He said his favorite season was Fall because "here in Louisiana the weather is moderate and it allowed me to be in the outdoors, which I loved, and to enjoy hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities". He grew up in the country as a young boy and returned to the country in his Winter Years to rediscover his connection to the great outdoors where he and his wife built their dream farm house, which has been enjoyed by 5 generations of his family.

He said "My children and my wife were the greatest gifts I ever received. They were the best because they shaped my life and they came to me from God".

There will be a Requiem Mass officiated by Father Mark Beard at St. Joseph Abbey located at 75376 River Road, Saint Benedict, Louisiana on Thursday January 12th, 2023. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the church followed by the Celebration of the Mass at 2:00 p.m. Burial to immediately follow in the Meadows of the Abbey.

After the burial, a Memorial and Celebration of Life will follow at Vintage Court located at 75082 Highway 25, Covington, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Full of Grace St. Helena Catholic Church, P.O. Box 1647, Amite, Louisiana 70422.