Joan Evelyn Burson

Eunice, LA—A funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Joan Evelyn Burson on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Eunice, Louisiana. Joan passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025, at the age of 84. A Rosary will be recited at 10:30 a.m., immediately followed by the Mass at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow with Father Hampton Davis, Celebrant.

Born on September 26, 1941, to Gussie M. and Isaac Jackson Burson, Joan lived a life defined by faith, learning, and service to her community. A proud graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette), she dedicated her life to education. She spent years as a beloved educator in the Iberia and St. Landry Parish schools, shaping the minds of countless students. Following her teaching career, she continued her commitment to public service as a respected librarian with the Eunice Library.

Joan was a faith-filled woman whose life was a testament to her devotion and passion. A recipient of a Diocesan Medal for service in establishing the Serra Club for vocations at St. Anthony’s. She was a lector and a faithful member of the Catholic Daughters for many decades. She shared a lifelong love for sports with her family and was a die-hard fan of the Saints and the LA Dodgers. She was a world traveler across South America, Europe, and Africa. She fondly recalled making a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land. She was a fervent fan of the Dodgers baseball team and shared a passion for the New Orleans Saints with her siblings.

She was known for her exceptional organizational skills and her passion for curriculum development; talents she generously shared to support and structure the organizations she enthusiastically supported. She will be remembered for her dedication to learning and her unwavering kindness to her students, especially those who struggled with reading.

Joan was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Gussie M. and Isaac Jackson Burson, and by her siblings: John, Ada, Sarah, Robert, and Jack.

She is survived by her sister-in-law, Sandifer, and her brother-in-law, Denis, as well as a large and loving family of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews. Her impact on her family, her students, and the community of Eunice will be profoundly missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to St Anthony’s Catholic Church or to the libraries in Eunice or Basile and carry on Joan’s legacy by reading a good book.

Ardoin’s Funeral Home of Eunice, 1301 West Laurel Ave, (337)457.3371 is in charge of arrangements.