Nasen Joseph Fontenot Jr., 76, of Ville Platte, passed away on June 9, 2022, at Mercy Regional Medical Center. His mother, Tonnie Belle Fontenot, and father, Nasen Joseph Fontenot Sr., predeceased him. Nasen Jr. leaves behind his wife, Brenda Fontenot; son, Benjamin Fontenot of Baton Rouge; and brother, John Wayne Fontenot of Lafayette.
There will be no burial as Nasen donated his body to science at LSU Medical Center. There will be a 9:30 a.m. Rosary and 10 a.m. memorial Mass on Thursday, June 23, at Sacred Heart Church in Ville Platte.
Born March 16, 1946, in Ville Platte, Nasen graduated from Ville Platte High School in 1964 and Nichols State in 1969 and received his master’s and plus 30 from LSU. He started his professional career as a teacher at James Stephens Elementary and Plaisance Elementary. He then spent five years as a plant manager at Valley Canning in Cecilia before returning to education. He retired from the Evangeline Parish School System with 30+ years of service as a teacher at Ville Platte Junior High (7th and 8th grade math and science), assistant principal, and principal at Mamou Upper Elementary, Title 1 supervisor, and maintenance supervisor.
Friends and family are very aware of Nasen’s long struggle with health issues including the need for a kidney transplant. In 2006, after over two years of undergoing dialysis, he received a kidney from a family member, Monica Lafleur, who was involved in a tragic accident. Her husband, Richard Blair Lafleur, and children, Lindsey, Kayra, and Courtney are forever in our thoughts and prayers. Monica gave Brenda and Ben 16 more years with a husband and father and gave Nasen countless number of additional card games.
The family would like to give special thanks for the caregivers who helped Nasen get through his medical struggles, Dr. Greg Ardoin, Dr. Paul Miller, Dr. Daniel Frey, Dr. John Higginbotham, Dr. Chuck Monier, Dr. Jake Lafleur, Dr. Tommy Fontenot, and Dr. Brandon Fontenot. Thank you for your support.
On a lighter note…
Nasen enjoyed hunting and fishing when it was not too hot or too cold. What he really enjoyed was playing cards at the camp after the hunt was over… he was never the last one out of the woods.
Nasen also enjoyed his weekly card games (sometimes three per week) with his lifelong friends, going to the movies, attending plays at The Little Theatre in Eunice with Brenda, and cruising the back roads in his convertible sports car with the top down.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations in Nasen’s name to Alzheimer’s Services of Acadiana: www.alzacadiana.com.
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