Joanna Steele Viccellio

Joanna Steele Viccellio passed away peacefully at home on September 13, 2026, surrounded by her family. She was born September 18, 1939, in Lake Charles, LA to Anaice Theriot Steele and Charles Spencer Steele, Sr. She graduated from Lake Charles High School and McNeese State University with a degree in Liberal Arts. While at McNeese, Joanna was a member of the freshman homecoming court, La Belle Court, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority, was named Commerce Queen, Sweetheart of Delta Theta Chi fraternity, and served as an ROTC sponsor. Joanna married Charles Day Viccellio on February 6, 1960.

She was a member of the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, serving as a greeter and extraordinary minister of the Holy Eucharist, was a member of the Altar Society and Catholic Daughters of Americas, Court #695, and she was a Lady of the Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Joanna served at one time or another as the President of the Junior League of Lake Charles, Inc., Alpha Delta Pi Alumnae, Law League of Louisiana, SOWELA Area Council of Camp Fire, American Cancer Society, Southwest Louisiana Bar Auxiliary, Children’s Museum, Volunteer Center of Southwest Louisiana, the Planters’ League, and the Oaks at Hyde Place Homeowners’ Association. She also Chaired the 1988 United Way Campaign, the Committee for the 50th Anniversary of McNeese State University, the 1991 Community Needs Assessment for the Five-Parish Area, the Mother’s March for the March of Dimes, the United Way Professional Division, the Sales Tax Sub Committee for the Chennault Industrial Airpark Citizens’ Advisory Committee, and several reunions for the LCHS Class of 1957.

She served on the Boards of the McNeese State University Foundation, the United Way of Southwest Louisiana, the Chamber Southwest, the Alcohol Review Board for the City of Lake Charles, the Calcasieu Arts & Humanities Council, the Lake Charles Symphony, the Family and Youth Counseling Agency, the Mayor’s Commission on Women, the Serra Club of Lake Charles, the State Board of the American Cancer Society, and as Secretary of the McNeese Alumni Association. As Assistant Chairman of the Community Research Committee, Joanna supervised obtaining and refurbishing the “Old Stable” at 1027 Lakeshore Drive for use as the Junior League Headquarters, and the building was later designated and registered as a historical landmark.

She was honored by the Kiwanis Club of Lake Charles as the Citizen of the Year, the Quota Club as Woman of the Year, the Junior League of Lake Charles as Sustainer of the Year, was presented the Lifetime Friendship of the Children’s Museum Award, and was the initial recipient of the Jack V. Doland Outstanding Citizen of the Year. She was a member of the Krewe of Mystique and a former member of the Krewe de la Contrée, serving as its first Queen.

For many years, Joanna hosted the Viccellio and Collette holiday gatherings, Sunday dinners for her immediate family, organized the Planters' League field trips, and treasured the “Birthday Group” celebrations with her closest friends. Yet her greatest joy was her family. Known lovingly as “Gingaw”, she was the glue that held her family together, a true matriarch whose door was always open and whose table always had room for one more.

Joanna approached everything she did with boundless energy and determination, always giving 125 percent. Family members often joked that if you wanted something done, all you had to do was ask Gingaw. Whether working in her yard wearing her jewelry and signature lipstick or organizing a family gathering, she brought grace and purpose to every task.

A fierce competitor, Joanna loved both playing and watching sports and enjoyed every opportunity for a friendly contest. She was also one of her family's greatest champions, generously offering encouragement and positive feedback, making each child and grandchild believe they could become anything they dreamed. She taught her family not only to work hard and strive for excellence, but also how to conduct themselves with kindness, confidence, and integrity in every situation. Joanna's legacy lives on in the values she instilled, the traditions she created, and the deep love she poured into her family and community. Her family will forever remember her warmth, strength, unwavering faith, endless generosity, and the example she set of a life lived fully in service to others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, half-brother, C.S. Steele, Jr., half-sister, Hazel Steele Rock, and her husband, Charlie. She is survived by her son, Steele Viccellio (Jenni) of West Virginia; her daughters, Sue Gay Viccellio (Jan Fitzsimmons); and Joy V. Shearman (Tom) of Lake Charles; granddaughter, Emily Breaux Pettaway (Matt); grandsons, Spencer Viccellio, Anthony Viccellio (Breigh), Vincent Viccellio, and Nicholas Viccellio (Joanna); and great-grandson, Bond Pettaway. She is also survived by seven bonus grandchildren and ten bonus great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:30 PM on Friday, September 18, 2026 in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 935 Bilbo Street, with the Very Reverend Ruben Buller, V.G. serving as Celebrant. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home of Lake Charles. Visitation will be in the church from 1:30 PM until the time of service.

Should friends desire, memorial donations may be sent to the McNeese Foundation and designated for the Joanna Steele Viccellio Scholarship for Business Majors, the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, or to the Junior League of Lake Charles.