Joan Hennessey Koestler, a lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mississippi, was born on February 11, 1933, and departed this life on May 3, 2025, at 92.
A 1951 St. Francis Xavier Academy graduate, she attended St. Mary-of-the-Woods College, Terre Haute, Indiana. After many years as a devoted homemaker, she joined the family firm of P.L. Hennessey, Inc., as a real estate agent in 1979 and worked for 30+ years in the business. She was an active member of the Vicksburg-Warren Board of Realtors and a past member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary.
She was a life-long communicant of St. Paul Catholic Church in Vicksburg, where she served as secretary for the St. Paul Altar Society.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence H. and Margaret H. Hennessey; sons, John R. and Christopher H. Koestler; a brother, Lawrence H. Hennessey, Jr.; and a sister, Catherine Mulhern. She leaves behind daughters, Joan “Missy” (James) Arnold, Charlotte (John) Booth, Patricia (Preston) Williams; sons, Michael R. (Carla) Koestler, Robert M. (Donna) Koestler, Jr., and Lawrence H. Koestler; a brother, John A. (Joy Ann) Hennessey (Class of 1959); 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
The holy rosary will be recited Friday, May 16, at 8:30 a.m., followed by Visitation until 10:00 a.m. at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Avenue, Vicksburg. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. at St Paul Catholic Church, Vicksburg, with interment ensuing at Cedar Hill Cemetery.
The grandsons, H Stewart Patterson, Thomas R. Duffey, Jr., B. Carlisle Koestler, John P., and William R. Williams, will be pallbearers.
The family would like to thank the Heritage House Nursing Home and Pax Hospice staff.
Instead of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180, or Storehouse Community Food Pantry, PO Box 804912, Vicksburg, MS 39182.
