Joan Aycock

Mrs. Joan L. Aycock, 81, a lifelong resident of New Iberia, passed away Wednesday afternoon in a Lafayette hospital following complications during a medical procedure. Mrs. Aycock was known throughout the local area for the many students she both loved, and mentored, as well as countless other lives touched by her wit, her keen understanding of human nature, and most of all, her seemingly endless capacity to love and nurture. Mrs. Aycock spent 13 years in the public school system at New Iberia Senior High School teaching mathematics before entering administration there as an Assistant Principal. 11 years in that position earned her the respect of students, parents, and fellow administrators as a tough, but fair disciplinarian, as well as a person extremely motivated to provide the highest standard of educational experience for all 'her' students. Mrs. Aycock rounded out her public school career spending 2 1/2 years as Director of Curriculum for Iberia Parish where she was instrumental in developing an engaging and challenging public school curriculum. Mrs. Aycock retired from the public school system, but the allure of the classroom was never far from her mind. The challenge of helping to form the mathematical minds and critical thinking skills of a new generation lead her to Catholic High School, where she spent 10 of her 'retirement' years teaching math classes which included the grandchildren of some of her first students. In addition to her work in education, Mrs. Aycock was always interested in the outdoors. In her younger years, she loved to spend weekends hunting and fishing from her camp, aptly named 'Recess'. Her retirement years found her volunteering for service on the City Parks Commission. She also served as a national level board member of an organization devoted to the rescue of unwanted or abused Cairn Terriers similar to her beloved 'Twink'. Her most ardent, unwaivering desire, though, was to be found worthy of the simple epithet: 'teacher'. Mrs. Aycock was preceded in death by her parents, Buvens Paul and Omadell Chambers Lemoine. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Faye Aycock of Lafayette, and their sons, Scott Aycock of Baton Rouge and Mark Aycock of Lafayette. Pallbearers will include Jeff Aycock, Scott Aycock, Mark Aycock, Albert Mestayer, Kelly Gonsolin, Seth Mestayer. Honorary Pallbearers representing the educational community are Dave Cavalier and Dale Henderson. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 5, 2010 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in New Iberia, with Rev. Gary Schexnayder as the Celebrant. Interment will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery in New Iberia. A gathering of family and friends will be Friday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd in New Iberia. A rosary will be prayed at 6:30 PM Friday. Visitation will continue Saturday from 10:00 AM until 1:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Scholarship Programs at New Iberia Senior High or Catholic High in New Iberia. Pellerin Funeral Home, 502 Jefferson Terrace Blvd, New Iberia, 365.3331 is in charge of the arrangements.