Warner "Joseph"Delaune

Warner "Joseph" Delaune III, 22, did not lose his battle to cancer.  Joseph lived by the eloquent quote "You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live". By those standards Joseph won the battle.  Joseph died peacefully surrounded by his new wife and family early Thursday morning on September 24, 2015, the day after marrying his high school sweetheart and beloved best friend, Brooke Marie Hotard Delaune. Joseph was a graduate of St. Aloysius School and Catholic High School.  He attended Louisiana State University Honor College, majoring in Psychology with the aspiration of attending medical school. He began a career of leadership and service by first receiving The Daughters of Jesus Excellence Award at St. Aloysius. In high school, he was a National Merit Finalist, Catholic High School Man of the Year, Golden Bear recipient, Catholic High School Drama Club President, Youth of the Year Exchange Club of Baton Rouge, and a member of his church's youth group among many other extraordinary accomplishments in his young life.  Joseph was a member of Phi Delta Theta and Student Government at LSU, serving as treasurer for both organizations.  Joseph was an intern at Baton Rouge EMS and was passionate about serving and healing others.  He had many hobbies including his love for playing the guitar, cooking, and spending quality time with friends and family. Joseph is survived by his wife and the absolute love of his life, Brooke Marie Hotard Delaune; parents, Warner and Susan Waggenspack Delaune; siblings, Camille, William, and John Delaune.  He is survived by his maternal grandmother, Jody "Mimi" Harper Waggenspack; paternal grandparents, Catherine "Granny" Delaune Rochelle and John "Papa John" Rochelle; Special great aunts Carmel Mask and Augusta Waggenspack, aunts and uncles, Mark and Liz Schell Waggenspack, George and Mary Waggenspack Karam, James and Beth Ruiz, John Waggenspack, James "Sonny" and Joan Chastain, Mark and Tanya Delaune, Kevin and Marcia Carlisle and Michael and Kelly Delaune; and his adoring cousins, Emily, Adam and his wife Aubrey, and Kathryn Waggenspack, Susan, Anne, Elizabeth and Claire Karam, Michael, Matthew and Sarah Ruiz, Helene, James, Sam, and Lilly Chastain, Marshall, Maria and Matthew Delaune, Thomas, Catherine and Joseph Carlisle, and Luke and Noah Delaune. Joseph is also survived by his new family, in-laws, Mr. Dean and Stacie Altazan Hotard, Brandy Hotard and Stephen Loupe, their son and Brooke's godchild Lawson, and brother-in-law Brady and his fiance' Amanda Gustin, brother-in-law Brad; Brooke's grandparents Roy "Pop" Hotard, Dantin "PawPaw" and Cheryl "MawMaw" Leblanc.  His paternal grandfather, Warner Joseph Delaune, Sr, and his maternal grandfather, Guy Joseph Waggenspack and Brooke's paternal grandmother, Barbara "Barbo" Hotard, precede Joseph in death. Joseph's family will receive visitors Monday, September 28, 2015 from 9am until 12pm with a mass honoring Joseph's life to follow at St. Aloysius Catholic Church located at 2025 Stuart Avenue, Baton Rouge, LA 70808.  Interment will follow at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Finally, a very special thank you to all of the doctors at MD Anderson Cancer Center, especially Dr. Abdi, Dr. Guido DeJesus, and Tina Leblanc, RN of Hospice of Baton Rouge.  And an extra special thank you to Joseph's uncles/doctors Dr. Mark Waggenspack, Dr. George Karam and Dr. James Ruiz and Dr. Vince Cataldo for whom we are eternally grateful for their medical advice and wisdom from the very beginning of Joseph's diagnosis to his last breath.  They constantly filled Joseph with hope.  Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 825 Government Street, is in charge of arrangements.