September 15, 1939 - May 3, 2009Opelousas- Funeral services for Mr. Joseph “Jay” Sylvester, age 69, will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 6, 2009, with a Mass of Christian Burial at Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas. Father Albert Nunez will officiate the mass. Interment will follow in the Bellevue Memorial Park.
Beloved husband and father, Joseph “Jay” Sylvester departed this life on May 3, 2009, at his residence of Washington, LA, to be with the Lord.
Jay, as he was affectionately known, was a devoted husband, and a proud father and grandfather who earned the love and respect of many throughout his career as an educator in the St. Landry Parish School System. He earned his B.S. Degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and his Masters Degree from Louisiana State University. He began teaching science in 1962 in Leonville, LA. Later, Jay found his calling in the subject of Agriculture which he began teaching in 1974 in Lawtell, LA until his career progressed and he was appointed principal of the Washington Vocational School. After completing six years as principal, he was appointed Supervisor of Vocational Education in 1988, a position he held until he retired in 2006.
Throughout his career, Jay received numerous awards, and in 2000, he was recognized as the Outstanding Vocational Educator for the State of Louisiana by the Louisiana Association for Career and Technical Education, and cited for his involvement in the development of the Louisiana Plan for Administration of Carl Perkins Vocational Education Funds and for implementation of state-of-the-art equipment in the vocational education programs in St. Landry Parish. He retired after 44 years of exemplary service to the students and system of St. Landry Parish.
Jay was well known not only in the education field, but also in the equine industry as a breeder and owner of Thoroughbred race horses. Other hobbies included hunting and fishing with family and friends.
Jay will be missed tremendously by his wife of 50 years, Helen, his children and their spouses, Ted Sylvester of Swords, Nick and Emily Sylvester of Opelousas, Suzanne and Jason Christie of Opelousas, Sharon and Abhay Misra of Austin, TX , Dr. Richard and Angie Sylvester of Lafayette, Dr. Ronald and Amanda Sylvester of Lafayette, Michael and Stacey Sylvester of Pierre Part, La, and Mary Beth and Harry Dyson of Shreveport and his grandchildren, Amanda, Jordan, Megan, Emily, Elliot, Jay, Maya, Seth, Alyssa, Blake, Hunter, Trent, Cole, Sydney and Isabella.
He was preceded in death by his father Sidney Sylvester, mother Lou Anna D. Sylvester and brother Jimmie Sylvester.
Pallbearers will be Brent Fontenot, Armand Castille, Robert Lanclos, Steve Vidrine, Micky Guidry, Jimmy Prados, Jimmy Sibille, and Iggie Castille. Honorary pallbearers will be Jack Johnson, Pete Sturgis, Larry Lanclos, and Darrell Smith.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, from 3 p.m.-9p.m. in the Sibille Funeral Home. On Wednesday, visitation will continue from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.
A rosary reciting will be held on the evening of Tuesday, May 5th at 7p.m. in the funeral home.
Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.
Link to Obituary
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