Jo Louise Pecoraro

1941 - 2024

Jo Louise Pecoraro passed away peacefully at home in Mandeville, La. on February 9, 2024, age 82. She was born February 19, 1941 in Baton Rouge, La., the second of two children to the late Joseph Alphonse and Pauline Maggio Pecoraro and was baptized Josephine Louise. She was to always treasure and celebrate her Sicilian heritage. She is survived by her brother Anthony Joseph and his wife, Amelia "Millie" Parr Pecoraro, a nephew, Wayne Anthony Pecoraro (Tena) and three nieces, Annette Pecoraro Chauvin (David), Barbara Pecoraro Lively, Vicki Pecoraro Sunseri (Christopher), five great-nephews, Christian (Shelby) Pecoraro, Justin and Hayden Chauvin, Jeremy Lively, Chase Broussard, and three great-nieces, Cameron Pecoraro and Brittany Lively Davis (Jeremiah), Lauren Taylor Langlois (Matthew), great-great nephew, Stephen Langlois. Jo Louise attended St. Agnes Elementary before switching to St. Joseph's Academy elementary and high school. In her senior year she was elected Student Body President and selected the outstanding graduate of her class as Queen of the May Day production honoring the Senior class of 1959. She entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph in New Orleans and professed first vows in 1962, receiving the name Sister Paul Christopher. She earned a B.A. degree in English from St. Mary's Dominican College cum laude in New Orleans in 1965, an M.A. in English at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge in 1971, and an M.A. in Religious Education from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans in 1975. Her teaching career spanned 42 years beginning in 1963 at St. Frances Cabrini Parochial School in New Orleans, followed by teaching secondary level English for four years at St. Joseph Cathedral Preparatory Seminary in Baton Rouge and 14 years at St. Joseph's Academy in Baton Rouge where she also introduced a popular course in Comparative Religion. Upon leaving the Congregation in 1988 she served as caseworker at St. Louis Community Center in New Orleans for five years and then returned to teaching English in three New Orleans schools: McMain Magnet School for one year, Rabouin Career Magnet High School for eight years and Warren Easton High School for three years. In 1995 Jo Louise, along with her good friends Stephanie Bourgeois and Audrea Hicks, relocated to Mandeville as she neared retirement. Her final five years of teaching were at Covington High School in Covington, La. Her reputation as an exceptional teacher continued throughout her career with significant recognition achieved in 1992 when she was named "Best All-Around Teacher" at Rabouin Career Magnet School and in 1995 as "Outstanding Teacher" at Warren Easton High School. After the death of her mother, Jo and her father traveled to Sicily to reconnect with family there. In 2001, as a special 60th birthday gift to herself, Jo took a solo trip to the vineyards of Italy, enrolling in a work program where she helped with the harvest on an olive farm, gaining a new appreciation for her forbears. In retirement Jo Louise thrived in the peace and beauty of her Mandeville home, taking daily walks on the nearby Trace, teaching Yoga to small groups and at a nearby nursing home for many years, hosting family and friends and enjoying her special furry companions, "tuxedo cat" Jazz and sweet dog, Baci. She had leisure time to exercise her artistic gifts, creating small collage posters and book marks embellished with selected quotes written in her beautiful personal calligraphy. Jo's dedication to Yoga, Zen, mindfulness and her morning "coffee meditations" was central to her life and informed her every action and relationship. Friends and strangers alike received the warmth of Jo's radiating, positive spirit. Jo Louise cherished the special bond she had with her brother Anthony and her sister-in-law Millie who she looked upon as the sister she never had. Jo looked forward to their visits when they could cook together, eat out, sing, dance and reminisce. Their visits were often highlighted by a stroll around the Lake Pontchartrain waterfront, one of their favorite places. Special appreciation is extended to Chandria and Candence Jones (former pupils of Jo Louise) and Katrina McDowell, who provided compassionate care to Jo Louise over the past few years, especially in her final months. Visitation will be at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 2250 Main St, Baton Rouge, LA 70802 on Saturday, March 2. Visitation will be held from 10 to 11:00 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am officiated by Rev. Tom Ranzino. Interment will follow at Green Oaks Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Jo Louise's memory to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org or (call 800 227-2345) or to the Alzheimer's Foundation of America at www.alzfdn.org or (call 866 232-8484).