Roll Call Tribute

Joann Van Parys Pappas
March 28, 1955 – January 16, 2023

Joann Frances (Van Parys) Pappas, a longtime high school history teacher and college professor in the Texarkana, TX, area, mother of three, sister of six, passed away in her sleep on January 16 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. The cause of death was unclear, but Joann, who lived in Wake Village, TX, had been experiencing labored breathing following bouts with COVID.

Joann, 67, died while in the company of her daughter Elizabeth.

Joann was born on March 28, 1955, in Limestone, ME, to Joseph M. Van Parys of South Bend, IN, and Patricia A. (Williams) Van Parys, of Pittsburgh, PA, both of whom predecease her.

Joann was the first of Van and Pat’s seven children, born over nine years. A student of the Sacred Heart Academy and St. Edward’s, Joann would later attend Pine Street Junior High and graduate Salutatorian of her class at Texas High School in 1973. There wasn’t an honorary society or social organization that she didn’t join—and ultimately conquer—setting the hyperactive social and academic tone for the rest of her life. That’s how she rolled, full steam, til the very end. Organizations (too many to list), you know who you are.

Joann attended Texas A&M in College Station as a Presidential Scholar, where she earned both a Bachelor and Master degree in History. There was no Bigger Aggie out there (admittedly, fighting words) and this is where her love of historical traditions fully took root. In December 1973, she married Andrew Pappas, also of Texarkana (and fellow Aggie) at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They bore a son Andrew Joseph (A.J.), in June 1974, followed by daughters Elizabeth Ann, in March 1982, and Rebecca Marie, in March 1988. A devout Catholic, Joann adhered to the same criteria in naming her children as her mother had: in homage to close relatives… just so long they had been named after Saints.

Andrew’s career as an engineer within the paper industry took them to locations across Louisiana and Texas—where at one point in the mid 80s, Joann worked as a curator at the Star of the Republic Museum in Washington-on-the-Brazos. From there they headed to Rome, GA., before returning to the Texarkana area in 1989, when Andrew transferred with BE&K Building Group. They settled in Wake Village, where their marriage would later end in divorce.

Once her children entered school, Joann began substitute teaching at Texas High and Texarkana College. In 2000, she took a full-time position at Redwater High School. Two time-honored traditions Joann initiated at Redwater included having her students sign her teaching podium upon graduating, and always making the time to meet with former students whenever they rolled through town. A natural connector, she often dispatched “her kids” to see her siblings or friends in various destinations, along with the Big Sister mandate to help them land a job or pursue their dreams. And you didn’t dare mess with Texas.

Joann is survived by her children Andrew Joseph Pappas of Texarkana, Tx; Elizabeth Pappas (Brent Waligory) and Rebecca Pappas of New York City; her siblings Joseph Michael Van Parys (Judi Young) of Tarpon Springs, FL; Katherine Marie McCoy (Tim McCoy) of Johnston, IA; David Carroll Van Parys (Janice Dickson) of Leavenworth, KS; William Maurice Van Parys (Doug Harris) of NYC; John Patrick Van Parys of Kansas City, MO; and Brigid Ann Van Parys of St. Joseph, MO. She also leaves behind a multitude of brokenhearted, yet eternally awestruck first cousins throughout the Midwest. And, oh yes, her students, far and wide.

She will be sorely missed and never forgotten.

Visitation is 2:00 to 7:00 PM Saturday, January 28, 2023 at East Funeral Home-Downtown.

Rosary will be recited 4:00 P.M. Saturday, January 28, 2023 at East Funeral Home-Downtown.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 3:00 P.M. Sunday, January 29, 2023 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial to follow in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Condolences may be left at www.eastfuneralhomes.com