Joan Hennessey Koestler

Published 1:47 pm Thursday, May 8, 2025

Joan Hennessey Koestler, a lifelong resident of Vicksburg, Mississippi, was born February 11, 1933, and departed this life Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the age of 92.

A 1951 graduate of St. Francis Xavier Academy, 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 working for 30- plus 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 lifelong 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 and Patricia (Preston) Williams; sons, Michael R. (Carla) Koestler, Robert M. (Donna) Koestler Jr. and Lawrence H. Koestler; a brother, John A. (Joy Ann) Hennessey; 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 a.m. at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Ave., 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.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, H. Stewart Patterson, Thomas R. Duffey Jr., B. Carlisle Koestler, John P. and William R. Williams.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the staff of Heritage House Nursing Home and Pax Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul Catholic Church, 713 Crawford St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or Storehouse Community Food Pantry, PO Box 804912, Vicksburg, MS. 39182.