Alice Joyce Voorhies of Lafayette died in her home on April 1, 2017, following a courageous battle with cancer.
Alice will be remembered fondly by thousands of students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette as a Master Instructor in the College of Education, over a collective period of 35 years. Having earned a bachelor’s degree in education, Alice worked at Magnolia School, a private school in New Orleans, and it was there that she found her calling. She went on to get her master’s degree in counseling and guidance, and she dedicated her life to instructing others on working with exceptional children. During the 80s and 90s she owned and operated a private counseling and testing center, Voorhies Guidance Center. In 1999, she returned to UL where she taught Special Education to pre-service teachers and most notably, coordinated the UL 2 � 2 Program on the campus of LSUE until her retirement in 2015.
For all who knew Alice, she will always be remembered for the fun-loving person that she was. She loved fishing at Cypremort Point, picnicking at Jungle Gardens at Avery Island, and sharing time with friends and family, enjoying a good meal, movie, or Saints game. Most will remember Alice for her ability to entertain through stories of her adventures, which ultimately led to her writing two books. The first entitled, The Promise, is the story and escapades of her mother’s family written as a promise to her mother. The second, Once Upon a Time in New Iberia, chronicles her own journey as a bright, feisty girl coming of age during a time of social revolution to an educated, liberated woman in the conservative culture of small-town South Louisiana.
A native of New Iberia, Alice was preceded in death by her beloved parents Richard P. Voorhies, Sr. and Joyce Vidrine Voorhies.
She is survived by seven siblings: Paul E. Voorhies II of New Iberia; Richard P. Voorhies Jr. and wife Maria of New Orleans; Susan Voorhies Walsh and husband James of Metairie; Mary Voorhies Davis and husband William of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Walter J. Voorhies and wife Reneé of New Iberia; Evie Voorhies Andras and husband Robert of Chicago; and, David M. Voorhies of New Iberia – along with dozens of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and a Havanese named Lucy.
Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 on Friday, April 7, at Martin & Castille Funeral Home, 330 St. Landry St. in Lafayette with the rosary at 7:30.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 8, at 10:00 am at Our Lady of Wisdom Chapel on the UL campus followed by a reception in the church hall celebrating Alice’s life.Giftbearers will be Phyllis and Grant Luke.
Pallbearers will be Paul Voorhies II, Walter Voorhies, Alex Voorhies, David Beard, John Keller, Jim Walsh and Bill Davis.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the UL Lafayette Foundation, designated to the Alice J. Voorhies Endowed Scholarship Fund. Please mail contributions to UL Lafayette Foundation, P.O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504.
Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311
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