Joyce O'Neal Thomas

Joyce O’Neal Thomas, a loving wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away on August 24 at the age of 97. Joyce was born on November 27, 1923 in Larue, Mississippi to William Raymour O’Neal and Anais Reeves O’Neal. Joyce attended Vancleave School then St. Martin’s where she was basketball Team Captain, All Star of Jackson County, and Valedictorian at her 1941 graduation. She lost her father at a very young age, but grew up amid a large, extended family and was especially close to her older sister Dora Lee Zindler. After graduation, Joyce moved to New Orleans and fell in love with the boy next door, Bill Thomas. They married on August 28, 1948 in St. Patrick’s Church in New Orleans. They had a wonderful life in Metairie, Louisiana and celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary before Bill died on October 9, 2015 when he was 91 years old. Together they raised four children who, along with their seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren, were a source of great joy and happiness to them both. Joyce was a wife who always laughed at her husband’s jokes and a mother who made all things possible. She packed up the kids for many great family vacations, creatively came up with whatever was needed for every child’s school project, made dinners effortlessly, even let Bill help her in the kitchen, and played a great game of tennis. Joyce could sew a dress in a day to wear to dinner that night. Grandchildren and then great grandchildren especially delighted her. Joyce couldn’t have enjoyed her family more, and she cherished every photo of them. Joyce and Bill were active members of St. Catherine of Siena Parish for over 60 years.

Joyce is survived by her children Betty Nunnally, Mary Richer (Arnie), Robert L. “Bobby” (Bonnie Jo), Jim (Mary Temple), grandchildren Jennifer Nunnally, Michelle Smiley (John), Charlie Thomas (Jenny), Emily Richer, Katie Impastato (Joe), Stephen Richer (Lindsay Short), Robert “Schoeny” Thomas (Brittain), and great grandchildren Olivia and Katherine, Adam, Colette and Margot, Julia and Adele, close friend Cathy Busald and nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her baby son, Paul Stephen, husband Bill Thomas, sister Dora Zindler, brother Marshall “Jack” O’Neal and her parents. The family wishes to thank the staff at Chateau de Notre Dame, especially Dr. David Myers, Lena Cola, Cynthia Isabel and Melanie Berlier for their loving care in the last years of Joyce’s life.

A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, November 15 at 11:15 am St. Catherine of Siena Church, 105 Bonnabel Blvd, Metairie, LA 70005.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in her name to St. Catherine of Siena Parish, or Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans.

To sign the family guestbook, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com