Joseph Peter "J.P." Morella

Joseph Peter “J.P.” Morella, 65, a resident of Berwick, passed away suddenly on Monday, December 25, 2017, at his daughter’s home in North Carolina after spending a wonderful Christmas with his family. 

J.P. was born on May 24, 1952 in St. Mary Parish the son of, Anthony Samuel Morella and Marie Armato Morella. After graduating from LSU Law Center in 1978, J.P. returned to his home town of Patterson where he opened his solo practice. He has served as Magistrate of the Mayors’ Court for the City of Patterson and Town of Berwick for over thirty years, was a member of the St. Mary Bar Association having served as Vice President on two different occasions and was a former defender of the Indigent Defender Board of the 16th Judicial District for twenty years.   J.P. was a third-degree Knight of Columbus, Fellow of the Louisiana Bar Foundation, former Board Member of the Patterson Cypress and Sawmill Festival, past president of the Berwick Dixie Youth Baseball Program, and a two-term Parish Council Member at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, where he also served as a Eucharistic Minister for thirty-five years.

He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife, Mary Ordogne Morella of Berwick; one son, Murray Joseph Morella and wife Jane of Houma; one daughter, Morgan Beisenherz and husband Michael of Cornelius, North Carolina; one grandson, Jack Beisenherz; one sister, Linda Thomas and husband Ogden Jr. of Patterson; two brothers, Robert Morella and wife Leslie of Lafayette, Anthony “Chip” Morella and wife Mary Lou of Berwick. 

J.P. was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Marie Armato Morella.  

J.P.’s family would like to especially thank Malinda Bourgeois for her dedication and assistance as his legal secretary for the past thirty- five years.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 30, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Patterson with Father Angelo Cremaldi celebrating Mass. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until Mass time and following Mass, J.P. will be laid to rest in the St. Joseph Catholic Church Cemetery.