Beverly Iona Lacoste Stuart

Beverly Iona Lacoste Stuart, age 91, peacefully went to heaven on April 2, 2023
surrounded by family. She was born October 28, 1931, in New Orleans, Louisiana to the late Octave and Iona Lacoste. She married her beloved husband, Marion “Stu” Stuart and had one child together, Frank M. Stuart Sr., who both preceded her in death, along with her grandchild Kylah Stuart and her sister Betty L. Cambas . She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Sheree Kerner, her grandchildren, Marissa Stuart (Val), Brenna Stuart, Frank M. Stuart Jr. (Leda), Bailey Stuart (Brandon), Amberly Stuart, and her great grandchildren Cameron Wood, Emma Stuart, Frank M. Stuart III, and Marissa's and Val's baby who is expected to arrive next week. Her love extended to her nieces and nephew: Julie Cambas, Steve Cambas, Karen Inman, Kathryn Siyman, and Kristi Cambas. Her grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephew were one of her greatest joys in life. Nothing meant more to her than being surrounded by family, cooking and eating together, telling stories, and sharing laughter.

In 1947, at the age of 16, she graduated high school early and joined the workforce
with the City of New Orleans to eventually become one of the first female draftsmen.
While working there, she received her B.S. from the College of Holy Cross in 1979, and
soon after, her master’s from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1981. She then
went on to pursue her passion for education as a teacher with her husband in St. Bernard
Parish. She often reflected fondly on her time teaching the children, remarking how her
students felt like family. She retired from her teacher position in 1993 to follow her
dream of traveling with Stu. Her passion for travel started with road trips to and from the

West Coast in their car with their son, eventually graduating to Winnebago. They
belonged to the Winnebago Club and traveled all over the United States with friends and
family, even going as far as Alaska.

Beverly was a devout Catholic, long-time philanthropist, and a very active
member of the St Francis Xavier Church. She loved to stop and appreciate the life going
on around her: gazing at the flowers, listening to the sound of crashing waves on the
sand, hearing stories recalled by her grandchildren, and making sure everyone was fed
and taken care of. She was an artist, wife, mom, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great
grandmother, but above all she was the kindest and most generous human you would’ve
met.

Services will be held at St Francis Xavier Church, 444 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA
70005 on April 11, 2023. Beginning with a gathering at 10:30 am followed by mass at
11:00am. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National Institute on Aging, Budget
Officer, Financial Management Branch, building 31, Room 5C35, 31 Center Drive MSC
2292 Bethesda, MD 20892-2540. Please mark “specifically for Alzheimer’s disease
research and educational activities” on your check.