Joan Neupert Schmidt

Joan Neupert Schmidt passed away on January 1, 2024 at the age of 90.  Joan was born on March 13, 1933 to Edward Anthony Neupert and Thelma Dassinger Neupert.  She was preceded in death by her husband John Louis Schmidt, her brothers Charles and Edward Neupert, and a baby daughter Geralyn. She is survived by 4 children - Mary Anne Schmidt, Carolyn Schmidt Hoffman (Bill), Cynthia Schmidt Juntti (Chris) and Bradley Schmidt, as well as 7 grandchildren – Zachary Hoffman, Alexander Hoffman, Mitchell Hoffman, Cameron Juntti, Kathryn Juntti, William Schmidt and Olivia Schmidt.   

Joan was a native and lifelong resident of New Orleans until the last three years of her life.  She grew up in Algiers, started school a year early, and was valedictorian of Holy Name of Mary High School.  Joan was an ever-present room mother at St. Julian Eymard and St. John Bosco grammar schools.  

Early in life she was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition and was given a life expectancy of 25.  An early recipient of open-heart surgery and her strong will helped her beat that prognosis.  She met the love of her life at 18. Johnny was an ‘East Banker’ who would catch several buses and a ferry to cross the river and take her on a date – something her two older brothers met with dubious suspicion.  She married him at 19 in 1952 and they enjoyed a wonderful and happy 43 yr marriage until his early death in 1996.  Life would change.  Always one to have many friends, the next stage of her life was spent in two (!) Red Hat clubs, and with her church friends - daily 7am mass at St. Rosalie followed by coffee and biscuits, and her casino friends – tearing it up at the penny slots in Biloxi.  Oh the stories those ladies would come back with.  And until their knees gave out, she would come out for Mardi Gras with her cousin Flo, who was like a sister to her.  

Covid hit and Joan was slowing down. Her kids were finally able to convince her to move to Houston, where most of her family resided.  Life would never be the same for her, but her family will be eternally grateful for the time we had with her near us these past three years.  Joan was a beautiful and loving person and will be missed by so many people who were lucky enough to have known and loved her.    

Services will be held on Saturday Jan 6 at St. Rosalie Church in Harvey, LA.  Visitation at 11am, Rosary 1pm, Mass 1:30pm. Internment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, Mass offerings would be greatly appreciated.