Joyce Lee Hopkins Purpera, a longtime resident of Innis, La, passed away peacefully at her home on April 11, 2026 at the age of 96. Joyce worked at Innis High School for many years in the cafeteria, where you could often find her sneaking extra of her famous homemade bread rolls to her students. Joyce would carry over her love for cooking to her home and would spend much of her time making her special strawberry fig jam. When Joyce wasn’t whipping up something in the kitchen, you could most likely find her at Green Lake, fishing and spending time with her family and loved ones. She was a devoted wife and mother, and adored her grandchildren and great grandchildren. All of the precious memories made with Joyce will live on forever. Joyce is survived by her daughters, Toni Lyn Purpera and Madelyn Nelson (Oscar); grandchildren, Chaney Dupre’, Robi Dupre’, Jodi Lyn Nelson, Jared Nelson (Rachel) and Jeffrey Collins; great grandchildren, Carmen, Lane, Vinci, Kyle, Jules, Toni, and Hendrix; and her beloved pets, Bobbie, Annie and Callie. Preceded in death by her husband, Vincent Purpera Jr.; son, Vincent C. Purpera; parents, Elizabeth and Irwin Hopkins, a brother, Charles Hopkins; and her sister, Dorothy Sanders. The visitation will be held at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Morganza, La on Friday, April 17, 2026 from 9:00 am until the memorial service begins at 11:00 a.m. The family would like to extend a special thanks to her caregivers, Lisa, Patricia, and Annette Johnson, and her family friends who were always gracious enough to extend a helping hand, Joe Landry (Catherine), Robbie Ewing (Donna), Wayne Gill (Susan), Todd Purpera and Jay Purpera.
