Joyce Williams Post

1935 - 2024

Joyce Williams Post passed away peacefully in her beloved hometown of New Orleans on August 16, 2024, at 89 years old, following a lengthy illness. Joyce was the daughter and only child of Hazel Ruth Puneky Williams and Rudolph Joseph Williams, Jr., born in New Orleans on March 9, 1935. She attended Our Lady of Lourdes grammar school and Dominican High School (Class of 1953), followed by Spencer Business College in New Orleans where she completed extensive coursework and perfected the necessary skills to become an accomplished executive secretary. It was around this time that she serendipitously met Robert Paul Post, Jr. at a party that she tagged along with her cousin to attend one night, and which Bob and his rowdy friends unceremoniously crashed. If there truly is such a thing as love at first sight, by all accounts Bob and Joyce were the epitome of that. Joyce and Bob married in 1955 and remained the love of each other's lives and each other's steadfast support until his death in 2013. Bob had attended LSU for a couple of years but left school to serve in the U.S. Navy. At the time of their marriage Bob was in the Navy but upon his discharge, due to Joyce being an ardent advocate for the value of a good education, it was with her strong encouragement that he made the decision to return to LSU in Baton Rouge to finish the degree that he had begun. Joyce had every faith that she could support them financially while Bob completed his education. Upon their move to Baton Rouge Joyce was hired as the executive secretary to the Personnel Director of East Baton Rouge City-Parish Government. Her job paid well enough that despite the money being tight, Joyce budgeted well and they had everything they needed, even after becoming parents to their first daughter during that time and Joyce balancing her life as a working mother. Once Bob graduated from LSU in the summer of 1959 he and Joyce returned to New Orleans where Bob began his successful career and Joyce was hired in an executive secretary position with Shell Oil Company that she maintained until their second daughter was born. Her entire salary at Shell was saved and became the downpayment for their first home in 1962. Joyce did everything with perfection. She was a talented seamstress, regularly making beautiful clothes for herself and for her young daughters. In later years she found a passion for embroidery and especially for needlepoint. Her home was filled with beautiful needlepoint pillows and a few years on she discovered a new talent of making needlepoint Christmas ornaments. She took great pride every year in her always spectacular Christmas tree filled with the many ornaments she had made. Once her first grandson was born, she began the tradition of making him, and each subsequent grandson, an annual needlepoint ornament of her own creative design, a tradition that spanned from their first Christmas until they turned 18. Joyce also discovered the art of beading and made countless beautiful necklaces for herself and her daughters, pieces they will treasure always. Joyce was an amazing cook, always on the look-out for the next great recipe to try and when Bob developed a health condition that required, he start eating a heart healthy diet, Joyce lovingly and happily learned to cook a completely new way and was amazingly successful. Joyce had exquisite taste in all things. She was passionate about creating a beautiful home and was always dressed impeccably, even just to walk out to the mailbox in her front yard. Joyce and Bob travelled the world once their children were grown, and all of their many trips brought her great joy to experience and appreciate the history, wonder, and beauty of the world. She frequently marveled at living a life she could only have dreamed of as a child, only to have ended up so privileged to actually have experienced. Joyce felt blessed and ever grateful for Bob's enduring love and the wonderful life they built together, not the least of which being their three college graduate daughters. Joyce was the proud mother of Nanette P. Cosban (Terence), Tracey P. Banowetz (David), and Kristin P. Christiansen (Jimmy). As well, Joyce is survived by her three college graduate grandsons Tyler Cosban (Darla), Travis Cosban MD (Bryan), and William Cosban (Nichole). Joyce felt a special joy when she became a great-grandmother and is also survived by her four great-grandsons Jacob, Eli, Samuel, and Porter. In addition, Joyce is survived by numerous cousins who played a meaningful role in her life in light of her being an only child. In particular among the cousins surviving her is her first cousin Lois Taquino Giorlando who was the same age as Joyce and from the time they were babies Joyce thought of Lois more as a sister than a cousin. They were each other's best friends and loyal confidants, and Lois was Joyce's rock whenever she needed one. Joyce's life was immeasurably enriched by their bond and she loved Lois dearly. Joyce was predeceased by her parents and her beloved husband Robert Paul Post, Jr. There is great comfort in the knowledge that she is back once again with him and the certainty that, true to form, he had everything perfectly planned for their beautiful and joyous reunion. The family would like to express heartfelt gratitude to Joyce's wonderful neighbors for the meaningful support they gave her in the years since Bob's passing. The family also would like to extend profound thanks to the many Poydras Home care partners for their loving assistance during the last years of her life, especially Chantelle, Demetria, Diedra, Erica, Lou, Satoya, and Windy. Relatives and friends are invited to attend the celebration of Joyce's life which will take place on Wednesday, August 21, 2024, at Greenwood Funeral Home, 5200 Canal Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70124. Visitation will begin at 11:00am, followed by a funeral Mass at 1:00pm. Burial will immediately follow at Greenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Joyce's name to St. Mary's Dominican High School (7701 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans, LA 70125, or online by visiting www.stmarysdominican.org). For condolences, please visit www.greenwoodfh.com.