In lieu of flowers, family and friends of Dana Olivia Dunn Territo who prefer to provide a memorial contribution may do so. The family will use these to honor Dana Olivia Dunn Territo's life and memory. Please continue to keep the family in your thoughts throughout this challenging time.
“Those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before. They are now wherever we
are.” (St. John Chrysostom)
Dana Olivia Dunn Territo was born February 1, 1958, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Ray and Adair Dunn and fell into God’s loving embrace on January 25, 2026, after a long battle with cancer.
After moving to Baton Rouge in 1976, she met and married the love of her life, David A. Territo, and they shared 40+ years of marriage.
She was loyal, caring, friendly, and compassionate to everyone she met, and had a sense of humor few knew about. Told she had a servant's heart and an “old soul,” Dana involved herself in a multitude of ministries and volunteer work. As the former Director of Ministries at St. Jude Catholic Church, Dana oversaw over 60 ministries and outreach programs for the parish. When her sons attended St. Jude Catholic School, Dana volunteered in various capacities, including being a member of the School Board and Home and School Association Retreat Leader, and chairing, for years, the Halloween Costume Contest at the school’s annual fall festival. Before working for the parish, Dana worked as the school’s Religion/Development/Technology Coordinator. She also served as Cantor, Lector, Eucharistic Minister, and Homebound Minister in the Church, and she and David also chaired the St. Jude Parish Fair for over 10 years, work Dana fondly held in her heart.
Dana’s volunteer work led to work in the community, in nursing homes and hospice care, and she found her niche working with the elderly and with individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. God showed her the steps in advocating for this population, and Dana soon helped organize the first Alzheimer’s Walk fundraiser in Baton Rouge in 1995, chairing the Walk twice after that, and working in various volunteer capacities for over 30 years. In 2013, seeing a growing need for caregivers and affected individuals to provide educational information about the disease, Dana approached The Advocate newspaper and submitted sample columns for an “Alzheimer’s Question and Answer” weekly column, which was accepted. She has voluntarily written this column since that time. She retired as Director of Services for Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area/Charlie’s Place in late 2018 to complete her lifelong dream of writing her book, which was realized in 2022, the year her book, “What My Grandchildren Taught Me About Alzheimer’s Disease,” was published and launched. That same year, Dana was selected as one of 10 women from over 500 women-submitted proposals nationwide by the iHeart/Seneca Women Podcast Network to produce and launch their own podcasts. Dana’s inaugural podcast, “The Memory Whisperer,” a series of 10 sessions, premiered in late December 2023 and consisted of interviews and discussions around the topics of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia disorders. She planned, wrote, and coordinated these podcasts even after and during her second bout with her cancer diagnosis.
Dana enjoyed and was passionate about advocating for the Alzheimer’s population. She served on various organizations that promoted those efforts, including the Alzheimer’s Association/LA Chapter, the Louisiana State Alzheimer’s Disease Task Force, the National Adult Day Services Association, LEADER, the AARP of Louisiana Live-at-Home Coalition, and the Stephen Ministry at St. Aloysius Church. A gifted writer, Dana composed various curricula to educate healthcare professionals and caregivers caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s, and she gave numerous presentations locally, statewide, and nationally on topics surrounding Alzheimer’s disease. Her energy and efforts to help the Alzheimer’s population never wavered.
Dana’s awards and commendations in her work and with the elderly and those affected by Alzheimer’s disease were many, among them including her activities at a nursing home being recognized twice as one of the top five programs for the elderly in the State of Louisiana, LNHA Region II Activity Director of the Year (1994), WAFB “Where Service Matters” volunteer Award (2003), LATAN Citizen Champion Award (2014), NADSA National Director Award (2016), the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs Lynette Fontenot Excellence in Inclusion Award (2017), and the Alzheimer’s Services 25-year service award, including three awards for top fundraiser for the organization’s Walk event. However, she would always say that her greatest accomplishments and recognitions were the gifts of her family.
Additionally, Dana shared her spiritual gifts as a Baton Rouge Diocesan Spiritual Director. Her spiritual life remained constant, and she was ever aware of God’s many blessings He had bestowed on her during her lifetime. Gratitude was always foremost in her prayers.
Dana’s happiest times were spent with her family and friends, whether at home or their cabin at Lake Rosemound. Her tradition of decorating Gingerbread Houses at Christmastime with her grandchildren was one of her great highlights of the year. She also loved painting, writing, cooking, Broadway musicals, old songs, and old movies.
Dana is survived by her beloved husband David (lovingly “Tomato”) of 40+years; her two sons and daughters-in-law: David Joseph (DJ) and Ashley Territo, and Hunter Ellis and Ashley #2 Territo; as well as four grandchildren: Collin, Brynn, Ellis, and Evelyn Territo. Additionally, she leaves behind her friend of over 55 years, Susie Sowada Cadena, and her special cousin, Claudia Menn. She is also survived by siblings: Ursula Howell (Kenny), Kathy Watkins, Sandy (Randy) Sanders, Kerry (Sheila) Dunn, Sherry (Dale) Haydel, and Stacie (Kirk) Ordoyne; and sisters-in-law: Rose Mary Wilhelm, Marion Territo, and Patricia Territo; brothers-in-law: Joe (Tina) Territo, and Sam (Liz) Territo; and godchildren: Kelsey Sanders, Gavin Ordoyne, and Sean Wilhelm; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and fondest friends. She was preceded in death by her father, Ray Bernard Dunn; her mother, Adair Ellis Dunn; her brother, Claude Dunn; her nephew, Jason Dozier; and her in-laws: Joseph and Lillie Territo, and Bill Wilhelm.
In addition to her family and friends, Dana would especially want to express her gratitude to her “prayer warriors,” those who were a constant, caring, and supportive presence throughout her cancer journey: Fr. David Allen, Dan and Lisette Borne’, Susie Cadena, Peggy Fairchild, Fran Fransen, Sheila Howard, Marcia Kirk, Liz and Russell LeDoux, Jane and Jean from Indiana, Trilby Lenfant, Claudia Menn, friends at MaxFitness gym, Deacon Curt Reeson, Nola Richard, Marshall and Debbie Roy, Sr. Cynthia Sabathier and the Sisters of St. Joseph Congregation, LuLu and Ronnie Scott, Claudette and Dr. Bob St. Amant, St. Jude Catholic Daughters, Deborah Sorrel, and Katherine Verberne, and all those who wrote thoughtful letters and cards to her during her illness. Further, the family wishes to extend their deepest appreciation to the extraordinary oncologists and staff of the Woman’s Hospital Cancer Pavilion and MD Anderson Gynecologic Oncology Associates (Houston), Haley at CenterWell Home Health, Fran with Reskin Wound Care, Shelley and staff with Pinnacle Hospice, and Karley and the entire staff at The Crossing at Clarity Hospice.
The Rosary and visitation will be held on Friday, January 30, 2026, at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 9150 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810. The Rosary will be recited at 9:00 a.m., followed by a visitation from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. A eulogy will be given at 10:45 a.m., and the Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow immediately after Mass at St. Gabriel Catholic Church Cemetery, 3625 LA-75, St. Gabriel, LA 70776.
In lieu of flowers, Dana would be most pleased to have you send Memorial Donations to: The Peace with Dementia Rosary, c/o Matt Estrade, Care Partner Mentoring, LLC, 717 Rivers Oaks Dr., Covington, LA 70433-5056.