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June 13, 1931 ~ October 2, 2022

KAPLAN — A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Roman Catholic Church honoring the life of Joyce Fontenot Istre, loving mother and grandmother who passed away on October 2, 2022 at the age of 91. This date is significant because it was her 74th wedding anniversary to her beloved husband who was waiting for her in heaven. She will be laid to rest at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Cemetery with Reverend Mark Miley officiating the services. Serving as pallbearers will be Hilton Waits, Ronny “Blue” Zaunbrecher, Daniel Zaunbrecher, Kevin CormierJohn Wayne Fontenot and Jason Suire.
Joyce was born June 13, 1931. She lived most of her life in Gueydan where she worked as a housekeeper and raised two daughters with her husband Otto. She was a devoted mother and wife and the love she had for her family will live on forever. She was an avid reader and loved crocheting items to share with her family. She enjoyed holding holiday family gatherings in her home and was a beautiful hostess. She poured her love into all those around her and lived a joy-filled, faithful life.
She is survived by one daughter Peggy Istre Suire (Lloyd) of Gueydan; five grandchildren, Shannan Suire Zaunbrecher Waits (Hilton), Andrea Suire Zaunbrecher (Ronny), Jason Suire (Darla), Heather Fruge Cormier (Kevin), Bonnie Fruge Monceaux (Casey); ten great grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Otto Istre; her parents, Clemence Fontenot, Sr. and Agnes Elizabeth Hebert Fontenot; one daughter, Brenda Istre Fruge; one son-in-law, Lawless Fruge; four brothers, Mervis Joseph “Joe” Fontenot, Dallas Anthony Fontenot, Clemence Fontenot, Jr., and Robert John Fontenot, Sr.; three sisters, Marjorie Marie Fontenot, May Rose Fontenot Abshire and Ella Jane Fontenot Landry.
The family would like to thank the Kaplan Hospital, Kaplan Nursing Home, and Lamm Family Care Hospice for the care she received.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Vincent Funeral Home - Kaplan, 300 N. Eleazar Ave., on Monday, October 3, 2022 from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM with a rosary being prayed at 6:00 PM; Tuesday, October 4, 2022 from 9:00 AM until the procession departs for the church at 1:45 PM.
All funeral arrangements are being conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Kaplan, (337) 643-7276 [Service Information 225-5276]. Condolences may be sent to the Istre family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.

A new partnership offers tuition discounts for some Junior Achievement students at SLCC’s campuses.
Junior Achievement of Acadiana and South Louisiana Community College have teamed up for the program, which is part of the JA Be Entrepreneurial Program.
The tuition assistance, which applies to SLCC’s for-credit courses that lead to technical diplomas and associate degrees, will begin for the current Fall 2022 semester. JA Be Entrepreneurial Program participants who register as full-time students at SLCC can apply for $500 per semester for up to four semesters. Tuition discounts of $250 (for up to four semesters) will be available for those participants attending SLCC on a part-time basis.
Participants in the JA Be Entrepreneurial Program learn about the mindset and skills needed for success by aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators. Through the program, students are able to evaluate their personal strengths for entrepreneurship and areas for refinements, as well as a develop a personal action plan.
“Junior Achievement of Acadiana is thrilled about all the opportunities this partnership will bring to our students. We are confident that, given the tools and resources by SLCC, our students will thrive and be better prepared to succeed as adults.” Lauren Fitts, JA of Acadiana Development Director.
“With Junior Achievement’s mission of ‘inspiring and preparing young people for success,’ I cannot imagine a better partnership to continue promoting that success,” said Dr. Vincent June, SLCC chancellor. “Obtaining a higher education after high school is part of that success. We gladly welcome JA participants to any of our nine campuses to give them the knowledge and skills they need to be successful as young adults.”
To take advantage of the tuition discount, JA Be Entrepreneurial participants need to identify themselves as such when completing the admissions and financial aid processes at SLCC.
Since 2019, SLCC has solidified similar educational partnerships with Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana, as well as MacLaff, Inc., and Miller Management, Inc., family-owned businesses of local McDonald’s restaurants throughout South Louisiana.
South Louisiana Community College is a comprehensive community college that operates campuses in Abbeville, Crowley, Franklin, Lafayette, Morgan City, New Iberia, Opelousas, St. Martinville, and Ville Platte. The college serves more than 15,000 students annually and offers an array of academic programs. Students earn associate degrees, technical diplomas, certificates, and industry-based certifications.
Junior Achievement of Acadiana is a youth development organization serving elementary, middle, and high school students throughout the Acadiana region. Junior Achievement has over 100 local JA Areas across the nation, and together is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA’s programs—in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy—ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

Community Foundation of Acadiana (CFA) and Hancock Whitney Bank are pleased to announce the 2022 Leaders in Philanthropy Award honorees for Vermilion Parish, Karen & Fred Hoyt.
The Hoyts' passion for philanthropy was infused into the culture of their local business, through which Karen and Fred contribute a portion of sales proceeds to support designated community organizations. These include the Abbeville Police and Fire Departments, St. Theresa and St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Churches, Vermilion Foundation, an affiliate of Community Foundation of Acadiana, the Boys & Girls Club, children’s sports leagues, American Legion and Veterans programs, Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs, and the Louisiana Military Museum in Abbeville.
John T. Landry, friend of the Hoyts said, “Fred and Karen Hoyt have been ardent supporters of Abbeville, and Vermilion Parish organizations, for over 40 years. Their generosity has helped improve the lives of the citizens of Vermilion Parish. They are always ' Giving Back ' when asked to step up and assist worthy causes.”
“The Hoyt’s have big hearts and are known to help many less fortunate citizens who are “down on their luck.”, said friend Charles Sonnier.
Leaders In Philanthropy Awards are presented annually to outstanding individuals, couples, and corporations who have supported nonprofit organizations, churches, and schools through charitable giving and/or philanthropic work.
Individuals and couples are selected from each of the eight parishes of Community Foundation of Acadiana’s (CFA) primary service area which includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion Parishes.
CFA welcomes nominations from the general public at www.cfacadiana.org/lip. Nominees need not be donors or have a Fund at CFA. CFA’s Past Board Members consider nominations and submit their recommendations to the CFA Board of Directors for final approval, including those proposed by any Parish Affiliate Advisory Board.
Community Foundation of Acadiana’s core purpose is to build legacies and improve communities by connecting generous people to the causes they care about. CFA has realized more than $348 million in philanthropic activities since inception in 2000.. CFA’s donor-directed grant distributions now exceed $185 million. While donors are not limited geographically, CFA’s primary service area includes the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion. CFA is the third largest community foundation in the state and expects to soon be included in the Top 100 U.S. community foundations by assets. These important milestones ensure CFA’s position as one of Louisiana’s premier philanthropic organizations.

Abbeville head coach Roderick Moy knew what the Wildcats’ first eight plays of the game would be before the game began.
However, by the time he completed calling seven out of the eight plays, Abbeville had a convincing 28-0 lead.
The Wildcats cruised to a 51-6 win over West St. Mary in a non-district game.
Abbeville improves to 4-1 on the year.
“The first eight plays were going to be the first eight plays,” said Moy. “Those were the plays we practiced all week long. We were only able to run seven plays. We did not get through the eight plays.”
Moy said he got the idea of running scripted plays from former San Franciso 49er head coach Bill Walsh. Walsh, however, had 15 straight plays he would call. So Moy tweaked it and did eight consecutive plays.
On Abbeville’s fourth play of the game, the Wildcats were in the end zone.
Trasean Greene had back-to-back carries for 10 yards, including a four-yard TD run. The Wildcats needed only two minutes to lead 7-0.
On their second possession, the Wildcats only took two plays to score seven more points.
Jaysen Shelvin, playing quarterback, connected with Chad Westley for a 40-yard touchdown reception.
Shelvin scored on the two-point conversion for a 15-0 lead.
While the AHS offense was scoring, the AHS defense was shutting down West St. Mary.
After three possessions, West St. Mary had 10 yards of offense.
Abbeville scored two more touchdowns in the final four minutes of the first quarter.
AHS quarterback Tahj Judge completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to Ronale Walker at the 3:52 mark.
Then, the Wildcats scored their fourth touchdowns thanks to a 40-yard punt return by Tazavian Andrews, who was tackled at the 6. On the first play from scrimmage, Chad Westley scored on a jet sweep to the right side.
Abbeville scored on its first six possessions of the game. At halftime, it was 44-0. AHS kicker Edwin Ramirez made a 23-yard field to end the first half.
“I was proud of how went out and took care of business early,” Moy added.
The Wildcats dominated on offense and defense.
Abbeville had 346 yards of offense in the first half. They threw for a season-high 160 yards and ran for 186 yards.
Five different Wildcats caught the football.
Walker and Edmar Simon had each a catch for 43 yards. Westley had a catch for 40 yards.
As far as running the football, Braylon Moore had the most carries with nine for 58 yards. Andrew had four carries for 64 yards.
West St. Mary had 15 total yards in the first half and only one first down. They finished the game with 69 total yards of offense.