JoAnn Naebers Louviere, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all. She passed away at her home in Lafayette on October 30, 2026. JoAnn was born on November 2, 1935, to Joseph John Naebers and Josephine Heinen Naebers in Raymond, Louisiana, later moving to Welsh. JoAnn’s warmth and faith touched countless lives over the course of her 90 plus years.
She was the older of four children outliving her younger siblings. She was known as Granny or Granny Jo to many.
JoAnn attended boarding school at St Michael’s in Crowley during her elementary years and later returned to Welsh for her remaining education.
On July 1,1952, she married the love of her life, AC (Al Claude) Louviere. They met at the Joy Theatre when only teenagers and quickly fell head over heels and tied the knot. Their two hearts beat as one, a true testament to what God intended a marriage to be.
Together they raised six children in Pine Island, Louisiana. AC was a farmer and cattleman, and JoAnn was a very busy housewife. When the children got older, she taught for 10 years at Headstart in Jennings.
AC pursued a job in the oilfield, working for Penrod Drilling Co. This life took them around the world beginning in Texas, California, Alaska, England, Holland and Turkey. They enjoyed trips that included cruises to Hawaii, the Bahamas, Cozumel and one very memorable trip to her parents’ homeland, Rhineland Germany.
Upon retirement they settled in Lafayette in1989. JoAnn never ever met a stranger; she would strike up a conversation with anyone.
She was a member of the St. Pius Women's Guild and Rosary Group, Ladies Altar Society, Red Hatters, and The New Acadians Club of Lafayette, one of their annual activities was a night at the horseraces – she simply loved this event.
Every Friday, she visited her hairdresser, Ernie. She continued this weekly appointment for over 37 years!
JoAnn loved the Mardis Gras season, with all its bling, dressing up for balls and other festivities, it was her time to SHINE when she was crowned Queen Emmeline XII of “All That Jazz” Krewe in 2001.
Granny loved having family gatherings, hosting parties and enjoying her time with all of her grandchildren.
Granny struck a few golf balls in her day. Her favorite pastime was playing cards with her lady friends weekly. She played canasta, pinochle and booray. In most recent years it was a game of hand and foot, most of the time she would be the winner (even if she had to cheat just a il bit!) When John Wayne came on TV, you had to be quiet.
JoAnn was a devote Catholic, she attended mass as long as she physically could and then remained faithful by watching via livestream from St. Pius Catholic Church or other live masses on TV. She prayed daily, in a quiet moment you would find her with a prayer book in one hand, her rosary in the other. Every week, Raphel, a lay minister, would bring family communion.
JoAnn’s family members include her loving husband of 74 years, AC (Al Claude) Louviere or Papa as she called him. Her six children: Melinda, Jeffrey, Valerie, Cory (Lola), Josette (Randy) and Rheinhart (Sylvia); 19 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great-grandchildren, brother-in-law DL Benoit and sister-in-law Bobbie Sue Naebers.
JoAnn was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Josephine Naebers, infant son Al Claude Jr., infant great- grandchildren Raven and Sadie Courville, daughter in law Michelle. JoAnn’s siblings Marlene N. Daigle, Ronnie Naebers and Gretchen N. Benoit and brother-in-law Alvin Daigle.
Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2026, at Hixson Funeral Home in Welsh, Louisiana. A Rosary will be prayed beginning at 11:30 a.m. followed by a time of sharing memories.
A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 1:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Church with Rev. Bill Miller officiating. Burial will follow in Our Lady of Seven Dolors Catholic Cemetery. Reception will follow burial in the KC Hall.
Pallbearers will be Alex Louviere, Brandan Landry, Douglas Rodermund, Jeffrey Louviere Jr., Mark Chase, and Nicholas Courville. Honorary pallbearers: Adrain Louviere, Brennan Arden, Clint Landry, Erik Louviere, Scott Courville, and Travis Rodermund.
The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers during this time and all of the love and support given to JoAnn in the passing days, especially her caregivers and Allegiance Healthcare Hospice of Eunice. A special thank you to Brandon Bellon who was so kind to write a song for JoAnn and AC titled “How Do I Let You Go”. Listen on Apple Music and Spotify.
