Joan Hennessey Koestler: 1933-2025

VICKSBURG, Miss. — Joan Hennessey Koestler a life-long resident of Vicksburg, Mississippi was born February 11, 1933 and departed this life on 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+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; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

The holy rosary will be recited Friday, May 16 at 8:30 am followed by Visitation until 10:00 am at Fisher-Riles Funeral Home, 5000 Indiana Avenue, Vicksburg.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am, 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 Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180 or Storehouse Community Food Pantry, PO Box 804912, Vicksburg, MS. 39182.

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