Joyce Moore Ippolito passed away peacefully Monday, March 1st after complications from a stroke. She was surrounded by her three children.
A native of Port Arthur, Joyce was born October 1, 1923 to Edward Moore and Gertrude Moreau Moore. She was a graduate of St. Mary’s High School and Port Arthur College. During World War II, Joyce worked at Gulf Oil Corporation. After marrying her high school sweetheart, Anthony Ippolito in 1946, Joyce worked at Sears while helping her husband operate the Seahawk Drive-In. For several years in the early 1970’s, Joyce worked at Bishop Byrne High School in the Administration Office. At the same time, Joyce began working at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Port Arthur and was there for over twenty-five years. She always had “priests-in-training” and contributed her astute “managerial” skills as being directed by a higher power. She continuously gave back to her church and her community. Joyce was a charter parishioner of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and a longtime member of the parish finance committee; a charter member of St. Joseph’s Federal Credit Union; a charter member of Evening La Sertoma Club; a member of the Southeast Texas American Italian Cultural Club; and a charter member of the Krewe of Aurora.
Joyce was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Anthony “Tony” Ippolito, her parents, Edward Moore and Gertrude Moreau Moore, and her brother, John Paul Moore. She is survived by her daughters, Madeline Nicholas and her husband Bill of Orange, and Maureen Sanders and her husband Jeff of Richmond; her son, John Ippolito and his wife Gay of Lufkin; her sister-in-law, Libby Ippolito; her grandchildren, Laura and Don Reeves, Chris and Nicole Nicholas, Scott and Jennifer Nicholas, Kristy and Scott Fancher, Penny and Wes Juergen, Jessica Sanders, Jennifer Sanders, and Jeffrey Sanders; also her great grandchildren, Tyler Stephens, Anthony Nicholas, Karli Wilson, and Isabella Nicholas. Joyce is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are: Wayne Alexander, Chris Nicholas, Scott Nicholas, Jeffery Sanders, Tyler Stephens and Carl Wolford. A gathering of family and friends will be Wednesday, March 3rd from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a memorial rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Broussard’s Mortuary in Nederland. A Mass of Christian Burial is set for Thursday, March 4th at 2:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Port Arthur with interment to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park with Father Stephen McCrate officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Joyce’s honor to St. Joseph’s Memorial Building Fund, 4600 Procter Street, Port Arthur, Texas 77642.
