Vita Clement

Opelousas --"Divine Composer, as the last movement of this symphony of my life closes, please forgive me for the wrong notes which I have sung while attempting to remain in harmony with others. I have tried to stay in tune with your way. I hope that I have played my part in putting a song in the hearts of those who knew me.”

Vita Pressburg Clement, age 90, of Opelousas, LA passed away on January 6, 2023. Vita was born on October 30, 1932 to Ruth Resweber Pressburg and Benjamin David Pressburg in Opelousas. Vita was a graduate of the Academy of the Immaculate Conception (now Opelousas Catholic) and LSU School of Music, Baton Rouge. She left the field of vocal music to become the Navy wife of Carl Clement and raise their large family, through 14 duty stations during his 30-year naval career. They returned to Opelousas in 1980 following Carl’s retirement.

Vita was an active member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, where she and Carl taught preparatory classes for Confirmation and instructional classes for new Catholics. While working as a volunteer for the Diocese of Lafayette, they helped establish the Parish Council System and write the Constitution of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church Parish. Vita sang in the Church Choir, led the Youth Choir, and acted as cantor/psalmist whenever needed.

Vita served on the Board of Directors of the Opelousas Little Theatre, but enjoyed most being onstage performing with that group or singing with the Opelousas Community Choir. In addition to singing and acting, she enjoyed drawing and painting; some of her cartoons appeared in The Franklin Post. An avid writer, Vita frequently wrote humorous vignettes of her life under the title of “Vita's Vibrations.”

Vita was preceded in death in 2016 by her husband of 61 years, Capt. Carl C. Clement, Jr., USN, ret., her childhood sweetheart, whom she met on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941; her eldest daughter, Vita Clement Fontenot Blackwell; her granddaughter, Rachel Ann Clement; her parents, Ruth Resweber Pressburg and Benjamin David Pressburg; her brother and only sibling, Albert Benjamin Pressburg; her maternal grandparents, Albert & Camille (Champagne) Resweber; and her paternal grandparents, Israel & Vita (Maples) Pressburg. (The name "Vita," a feminine form of "David," came from Vita Maples. The name is now in the 4th generation.)

Vita is survived by her children Carl Clement III and wife Cherlyn (McNealy), of DeQueen, AR, Cmdr. David Clement, USN, ret. and wife Jenifer (Joyce), of Cary, NC, Ruth and husband Chris Guidry, of Opelousas, James Clement and wife Catherine (Williams), of Baton Rouge, and Camille and husband Phillip Korenek, of Manhattan, KS. Vita is also survived by her granddaughter Vita Fontenot Mitchell, whom she and Carl raised and considered a daughter, and husband Jonathan Mitchell, of Gautier, MS. Vita has 15 surviving grandchildren: Victoria Blackwell, Merle Stanley Blackwell, Carl Clement IV, Adam Clement, Jeffrey Clement, Maura Jacobi, Stephen Clement, Claire Vita Fitzpatrick, Joseph Marks, Christian Kershaw, Samantha Stice, Jessica Lowe, James Ellis Clement Jr., Emilie Korenek, and Jocelyn Korenek, 20 great-grandchildren and three nephews, Charles Michael Pressburg, Benjamin James Pressburg, and Ryan Scott Pressburg.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 14, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. at the Sibille Funeral Home in Opelousas with a Rosary service at 9:30 a.m.

A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Opelousas. Rite of Committal and interment will follow in the St. Bridget Catholic Church Cemetery in Lawtell, LA.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Vita Pressburg Clement to Our Lady of the Redeemer Monastery, 168 Monastery Lane, Opelousas, LA 70570-1010, or to a charity of your choice.