Joan Marie Mathias

Joan Marie Beaudry Mathias, age 90, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt, died Wednesday, February 23, 2011 after a lengthy illness. There will be a Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 PM on Sunday, February 27, and a Rosary and Visitation will follow until 9 PM at Centuries Memorial Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, February 28 at 1 PM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Father Philip Michiels, Pastor will concelebrate with Father Pike Thomas. Interment at Centuries Memorial Park will follow.

Born on May 29, 1920, and raised in Toledo, Ohio, Joan was a resident of Shreveport since 1957 except for a brief residency in Houston, Texas from 1978 to 1980. Joan was a registered nurse and staff nurse at the VA Medical Center in Shreveport for 21 years and was very active in the Shreveport District Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association. She continued her profession as a staff nurse at the Houston VA Medical Center until her retirement in 1980. After retirement Joan continued to participate in the Retired VA Nurses organization. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and was very active in Our Lady's Ladies and the church's senior citizens group, Young At Heart, as well as serving on the church's Pastoral Council.

Joan's various hobbies included stained glass work, fishing on Toledo Bend, cross-stitch, aerobics, and many trips to the "boats". She will always be remembered for her devotion to her family, friends, church and country. Her remarkable determination and positive attitude influenced all who had the good fortune of knowing her.

Joan is preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Richard, parents Mr. And Mrs. Otto W. Beaudry, sisters Mary Agnes Beckmann, Margaret Eishen, Helen Smith, brothers Lawrence Beaudry, William Beaudry, Thomas Beaudry, Gerald Beaudry, as well as a grandson Jim Johnson and son-in-law Thomas Bishop. She is survived by her sons: Michael John and wife Jeannie of Miramar Beach, FL; Bernard James and wife Maria of Bossier City; her daughters: Mary Ann and husband A.D. Johnson of Shreveport; Jane Margaret and husband Greg Pizzigno of Ocala, FL; Jean Marie Keeton of El Paso, TX; Linda Suzanne Bishop of Suwanee, GA; Patricia Louise Mathias of Slidell, LA; Catherine Frances and her husband Charlie Ellsaesser of Bailey, CO; Rebecca Jeannine and her husband Ronnie Bass of Katy, TX. She is also survived by eighteen grandchildren and twenty-nine great-grandchildren as well as her sister, Ruth Bettinger of Berkey, OH, Sister-in-law, Irene Beaudry of Maumee, OH, and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Joan's 12 grandsons, Michael Mathias, Jr., Stephen Mathias, Jason Johnson, Richard Bishop, Bryan Ellsaesser, Mark Ellsaesser, Edward Mathias, Raun Bass, Richard Bass, Robert Bass and Rory Bass and Chris Spear will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Joan's sons-in-law: A. D. Johnson, Greg Pizzigno, Charlie Ellsaesser, and Ronnie Bass.

The family requests memorials be made to the Richard and Joan Mathias Scholarship Fund at The Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Catholic School, 947 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. The family wishes to thank all of the friends, doctors, nurses and aides who cared for their mother during her lengthy illness. A special heartfelt thank you to the staff of Montclair Park and Grace Home for the love and compassionate care extended to Joan and her family.

You may share you condolences with the family at www.centuriesmemorialfh.com

Centuries Memorial Funeral Home
318-686-4334