Denise Renee Bertrand, 57, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was welcomed to her eternal home on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

Born on April 7, 1968, in Lake Charles, Denise lived a life filled with love, creativity and joy. She was known for her passion for antique shopping, curating a beautifully eclectic collection of vintage treasures that reflected her unique spirit. A gifted cook, Denise, shared her warmth and hospitality through food. She worked for many years as a chef at The City Club of Lake Charles before opening Renee's Café on the 5th floor of the Capitol One tower. Later, she proudly owned and operated The Plaid Pig, a beloved café in downtown Lake Charles, where friends, family, and community members gathered to enjoy her talent and kindness. Her green thumb also brought beauty into every space she touched, especially in her vibrant outdoor gardens that bloomed under her care and reflected her love of nature.

Denise is survived by her devoted husband, Steven Bertrand; her son, Ben Bertrand; her stepson, Blake (Abbigale) Bertrand (grandson Hudson). She is also survived by her loving parents, Donald and Dee Dee Benoit; her sister, Deidra (Doug) Morris; and many extended family members and friends who will carry her memory in their hearts.

To know Denise was to know unconditional love and kindness. Her delicious food always brought comfort to those around her, and she had a way of making every gathering warmer, every meal more meaningful, and every ordinary day brighter. Her family finds comfort in knowing that her legacy lives on in the love she gave, the joy she created, and the countless lives she touched. Like the gardens she tended, her love continues to bloom in the lives she nurtured.

A celebration of Denise's life will be held on Thursday, October 9th, 2025, at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 5495 Elliott Rd, Lake Charles, Louisiana from 10:00-11:00 a.m. until time for the memorial service at 11:00 a.m. Family and friends are invited to gather in her honor.

To celebrate Denise's love of all things growing and beautiful, the family invites friends to send flowers or plants in her memory.

"Forever loved, never forgotten."

Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the celebration of Denise's life at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 5495 Elliott Rd, Lake Charles, Louisiana. Family and friends are invited to gather in her honor.