Joy Nalty Hodges

On Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, 2016, Joy Nalty Hodges, 86, of Alexandria and New Orleans died peacefully surrounded by her children. This day and every day we give thanks for Joy Hodges and her beautiful and full life of service to God, family and community. A true southern lady, Joy was a positive force of nature. Passionate and generous, she touched everyone with her larger than life personality. She will be greatly missed. Joy Nalty Hodges, a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother was an active member of the community. She was a graduate of the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans and Marymount College in Tarrytown, New York. Joy, a lover of New Orleans’ traditions, was Queen of Proteus and Osiris. She married the love of her life, William Henry Hodges, in 1953 and shortly thereafter made their home in Alexandria. Joy’s Catholic faith was paramount. She was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Church in Alexandria and St. Stephen Church in New Orleans. Joy was a Lady of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and a member of the Order of St. Lazarus. Many local and national organizations benefited from her leadership. Joy served on numerous boards in furtherance of her faith, philanthropic endeavors, and community improvement initiatives. Some of the organizations to which she devoted her time and talents included serving as the first woman President of the Louisiana Forestry Association, Founding Board Member of both Willwoods Community and Alexandria Museum of Art. Joy served as president of the of the Junior League of Alexandria and YWCA. Joy was a Board Member of the Louisiana State Museum, Saint Mary’s Training Center, LSUA Foundation, Forest Landowners Association, Tulane University Medical Cancer Center Advisory Board and Christus Cabrini Foundation among many others. She was appointed to The Committee of 100. Joy was honored with numerous awards including a 2009 Louisiana Legend Award, Forest Landowner of the Year, and the Service Above Self Award (Rotary Club). Survivors include her four loving children and their spouses: William Henry Hodges, Jr. (Renee), Philip Nalty Hodges (Jane Scott), Lucille Joy Hodges, and Mathilde Hodges Sateri (John); grandsons; William Henry Hodges III, Philip Nalty Hodges, Jr., Hamilton Hodges Sateri, and granddaughters Rachel Rayford Hodges, Katherine Renee Hodges, Jane Talley Hodges, and Madeleine Livaudais Sateri. Joy is also survived by her sisters-in-law Betsy Nalty Simmons (Dick), Jane Hanemann Nalty, Jane Mills Nalty, Beverly Hodges Davis, and Tedie Hodges Cahill, her brother-in-law Dick Hodges (Carol) and by her many nieces and nephews, each of whom she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband, William Henry Hodges, parents, Lucille Mooney Nalty and William Halpin Nalty, her sister Marilynn Nalty, her brothers Mooney, Donald and Paul, and her half-siblings Lorraine Gambel and Halpin Nalty. The life of Joy will be celebrated in Alexandria, LA on Friday, December 2nd at St. Frances Cabrini Church (9:30 a.m. Visitation and 10:00 a.m. Mass). In New Orleans, the funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 3rd at St. Stephen Church (9:30 a.m. Visitation and 10:30 a.m. Mass) Interment will follow the services at Metairie Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Joy’s honor to St. Stephen Church, Academy of the Sacred Heart, Louisiana Museum Foundation or Willwoods Community.