Joyce Perez Eustis (O'Connor)

Joyce Perez Eustis (O’Connor) died Saturday March 3, 2018 at the age of 99. She was born in New Orleans and raised in both Plaquemines Parish and New Orleans, and most recently resided in Baton Rouge, LA. Relatives and friends are invited on Friday, March 9, 2018 to attend a 1pm visitation followed at 2pm by Mass and interment at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home and Cemetery at 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd Metairie, LA 70124. Joyce was predeceased by her parents Leander H. and Agnes Octavie Chalin Perez, by her first husband John Douglas Eustis, by her husband of twenty-eight years Hugh B. O’Connor, and by her sons John Douglas Eustis, Jr., and Thomas P. Eustis, and by her siblings Leander H. Perez, Jr., Chalin O. Perez, Betty Perez (Mrs. Richard J.) Carrere. She is survived by her children Flora Eustis Nelms (husband-David), Geoffrey E. Eustis, and by her nine grandchildren Katherine Eustis Byrd (husband-David), Thomas P. Eustis, Jr. (wife-Melody), Jennifer Eustis, Geoffrey E. (Ged) Eustis, Jr., Jessica Eustis Miller (husband Rory), John Brittin Eustis (wife Amy), Winston M. (Mac) Eustis, Murphy F. Eustis, Mechlin E. Eustis, and by her six great-grandchildren Douglas Byrd, Victoria Byrd, Miles Eustis, Beckett Eustis, Harley Miller, and Delilah Miller. She is also survived by her large wonderful stepfamily: the step-children H. Bland (wife Diane) O’Connor, Jr., Cindy (husband Ellis) Buckner, Connie (husband Gary) Kraus, Tommy (wife Tish) O’Connor, Margie O’Connor, and Karen O’Connor, and the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Hugh Bland O’Connor; and the Gelpi family who loved Joyce as Mom and Grandma Joyce, Chester Gelpi Jr. (wife Mary), Beauregard (Beau) Gelpi (wife Peggy), Corinne (Coco) Gelpi Bendernagel (husband John), and their children Rebecca Gelpi and John Gelpi Bendernagel. Joyce was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy of New Orleans in 1935 and of Sophie Newcomb College of Tulane University in 1939, with a major in studio art. She continued to study painting in the 1980’s at the New Orleans Academy of Art. She was a homemaker and painted in her studio, completing hundreds of paintings that will be cherished by her family. She and her husband Hugh enjoyed traveling throughout Europe, even climbing ladders to ride Space-A military cargo planes, and go wherever they would take them. Joyce was a devout Member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and often attended St. Aloysius Catholic Church. The family asks for donations to a Hospice House of your choice in lieu of flowers. The family would like to extend their gratitude to the doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers of St. Mary’s Hospice House in Watkinsville, GA for their compassionate care of Joyce during her two month stay. Pallbearers will be David K. Byrd, Thomas P. Eustis, Jr., Geoffrey E. Eustis, Jr., John Brittin Eustis, Winston M. Eustis, Murphy F. Eustis, Miles Eustis, Douglas Byrd, John G. Bendernagel, and Beckett Eustis.