EUNICE~Our hearts are filled with sorrow as we announce the passing of our loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, Joan Schatzle McManus, 76 on Monday, April 17, 2017 in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loved ones. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 2:00 pm on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Eunice. Rite of Committal will follow in the St. Paul Mausoleum with Msgr. Romero Celebrant.
Joan graduated from St. Edmund High School in 1958 and SLI (UL Lafayette) with an associate degree in Secretarial Science in 1960. In her earlier career, Joan was employed as a secretary for various companies including LSU Dairy Science Department, Gulf States Utilities, Abdalla's Department Store and was one of the first employees hired at LSUE. Joan's career with the City of Eunice began in 1981 and in 2015, Joan retired from the City of Eunice after serving a total of 22 years as assistant/secretary to seven different mayors. She also served as coordinator of the city's Main to Main events, grant coordinator for the Main Street Program, co-creator of the Eunice Nutcracker Museum and other events including Eunice Mardi Gras, the annual Crawfish Etoufee Cook-Off, and various city beautification projects. She was an active member of numerous civic and charitable organizations, including Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, Eunice Ladies Tennis League, Daughters of the American Revolution, Eunice Bulb and Blossom Club and the Silverbelles Dancers. One of her proudest community accomplishments was being an integral part of bringing the Eunice Pharr Duson memorial statue to fruition. Joan never met a stranger, and all who knew her loved her. She is remembered for her gracious service to her community and could be counted on to warmly welcome strangers to Eunice, as well as help residents with her knowledge of anything community related. Joan enjoyed traveling, cooking, sewing, writing, organizing, decorating, gardening, genealogy and historic preservation. She had an irresistible joie de vivre and started each day with a great attitude and laughter. She was known as a gracious host, a great cook, a true southern lady, and had a gift for recalling family stories and historical facts.
Joan was a loving wife of fifty six incredible years to Vernon Charles McManus. She was a wonderful and devoted mother, grandmother, and great grandmother to her four children and their families, Hilton C. McManus and wife, Blanche of New Orleans; Erin McManus Perek and husband, Robert of Cypress, TX; Kelly McManus Buettner and husband, Russell of McKinney, TX; Brian C. McManus and wife, Melissa of Lafayette, LA. She cherished her grand babies and was lovingly known as Gigi to her grandchildren Allison, Blake, Lindsey, John, Gabrielle, Patrick, Jordan, Paige, Madilyn, Flynn, Brayden, Heather, and Amanda and her six great grandchildren. She will be truly missed by all who were blessed to know her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Ida Fontenot Schatzle; and her sister, Joyce Schatzle Young.
At the request of the family, visitation will be held at Ardoin's Funeral Home in Eunice, on Wednesday, April 19th from 11:00 am until 9:00 pm and again on Thursday, April 20th from 8:00 am until time of services. Deacon Gary Gaudin will recite a Rosary at 7:00 pm Wednesday.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Edmund High School and Miles Perret Cancer Services www.milesperret.org.