Mary JoAnn Cecilia Wolf DeRouen

We regretfully announce the passing of Mary JoAnn Cecilia Wolf DeRouen of Eunice. JoAnn, born May 9, 1929, was surrounded by her family and passed away peacefully at her home. She was predeceased by her husband F. J. DeRouen, Jr.
Our mother was, without a doubt, a very strong woman and our family was blessed to have her as the head of the family.
JoAnn received her diploma from Jewish Hospital School of Nursing Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1953. An excellent Registered Nurse, her talent was soon noticed by her husband of 60+ years, Dr. F. J. DeRouen, Jr.
She met F. J. “Brother” DeRouen while he was an intern at Cincinnati General. Brother, being the romantic Southern Boy he was, asked for her hand in marriage a few days before he was to return to Louisiana from Ohio. JoAnn was smitten and after a quick ceremony, they left for Louisiana, where JoAnn, who had no idea of what she had allowed herself to get into, was soon elbow deep in Brother’s Cajun heritage. And like most tough situations JoAnn came upon, she flourished.
JoAnn and Brother had 5 children, Mark DeRouen (the late Debbie DeRouen) of Eunice, Leslie DeRouen Harp of Lafayette, Barry DeRouen (Robin DeRouen) of Huffman, Texas, Jeffery DeRouen (Michelle DeRouen) of Eunice and the late Thresse Young of Eunice. She had 9 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
JoAnn was an excellent athlete, an accomplished tennis player and loved to play and watch her kids and grandkids compete.
A lover of flowers and gardens, she was a member and past President of the Eunice Garden Club. But JoAnn’s greatest focus outside her family was her students.
JoAnn taught Nursing at the Eunice Vocational School. It is safe to say JoAnn was at times held in disdain by some of her students because she was so hard on them. However, because of her persistence with these students, there are many in the medical field in the Eunice area who would not have been successful without JoAnn. She could see talent in a student and if she did see talent in you, God help you...you were going to succeed in spite of yourself.
Services will be held for JoAnn on Friday, March 18 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church at 2 p.m. followed by interment at St Paul’s Cemetery in Eunice. Visitation starts at noon.