Joan Cuccia Schmitt

Joan Cuccia Schmitt was born in St. Alphonsus Church parish within the sounds of St. Mary's Assumption Church bell tower in the Irish Channel on March 1, 1939, to her beloved mother, Althea Tastet Cuccia, and devoted father, Francis J. Cuccia, who both preceded her in death. She passed on peacefully to her Heavenly Father with family near on December 3, 2025. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 plus years, Arthur L. Schmitt, Sr.

Joan attended Redemptorist High School where she was a cheerleader. She graduated as class salutatorian and was voted Most Ideal Girl by the class of 1957, as well as Queen of Aries (The Rams).

It was at Redemptorist where she met the love of her life, Arthur, at a RHS Christmas dance their freshman year. Six years later, on December 26, 1959, they were married at St. Alphonsus Church, and the two became one.

Beginning in December of 1960, Joan gave birth to and nurtured their five children. She was their strongest advocate. Joan became a homemaker and head cheerleader for all her children and grandchildren, watching them grow spiritually and academically, and being present at every sporting event, school activity, play, dance revue, award ceremony, and graduation. She especially enjoyed her puzzle-making sessions with the kids and grandkids.

Starting in 2022, she was blessed with five great grandchildren, the joys of her life. Expecting a sixth, a great granddaughter, she was entrusted with the baby's name and kept it a secret from the entire family. Joan was very trustworthy in that way!

Joan's work life began while in high school with a secretarial job at Household Finance. She then took on her most important job as a homemaker until her last child started school. At that time, she began a career as the Executive Assistant to the Postmaster of New Orleans. She worked with four different postmasters until her retirement. She went on to hold part-time positions with True Title, p-l-a-i-d, inc, and Paris Finds until her passing.

For many years Joan was on the committee for the RHS Alumni fundraisers. She assisted in organizing her Class of '57 class reunions and helped organize her ladies' lunch group meetings that she looked forward to every other month. Joan and Arthur also thoroughly enjoyed the companionship and friendships of their breakfast group, who met twice a week.

Joan enjoyed traveling, especially the 30 years of going annually with the extended family to Callaway Gardens, where everyone looked forward to her meal of crawfish delicacy. So many memories were made there, and don't forget many eventful camping and amusement park trips.

Joan is also survived by her beloved children, Dionne Schmitt Daigle (Armand), Arthur L. Schmitt, Jr. (Donna), Warren F. Schmitt (Brandi), Jeanne Schmitt Bergeron (Michael), and Jeffrey M. Schmitt (Ursula); her amazing grandchildren, Peryn E. Schmitt, Armand P. Daigle, III (Elizabeth), Blake A. Schmitt, Dr. Julia Daigle Lee (Jonathan), Emily Daigle Zamjahn (Tyler), Courtney R. Schmitt (Aaron), Mark Salvadore (Sacha), Joel M. Bergeron (Ali), Dane D. Schmitt, Jonah N. Schmitt, and Mischa A. Bodin; her adorable great-grandchildren, Miles Salvadore, Ilia LaGraize, Eloise and Nora Daigle, Micah Lee, and unborn Baby Girl Zamjahn; her one and only dear sister, Jean Cuccia Hand, and brother-in-law, G. Patrick Hand, Jr.; her niece, Stacey Hand Serro (Tony/Harrison, Hayden, Heston), and nephews, G. Patrick Hand, III (Kim/Evan, Ryan) and Timothy F. Hand (Katie/Olivia, Ben); her brother-in-law, J. Martin Schmitt; her many "granddoggers"; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.

In addition to her parents, Joan was predeceased by her dear mother-in-law, Hildred Martin Schmitt, her sisters-in-law, Rita Schmitt Roccaforte and Lynn Berrill Schmitt, her brother-in-law, Francis B. Roccaforte, and her dear friends Audrey and Frank Neumann.

A celebration of a beautiful wife and wonderful life will be held on Saturday, December 13, 2025, at St. Mary's Assumption Church at 2030 Constance Street (corner of Josephine St), New Orleans, LA, with visitation from 8:30 am to 11:15 am. Mass will follow at 11:30 am. Directly after mass, interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will be held in the Boulevard Room at Greenwood Funeral Home.

If you would like, please wear your festive, colorful, holiday attire for this celebration of Joan.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please make a donation to the charity of your choice in Joan's memory.