Jonie Foster

Jonie Lee Gum Foster, beloved wife, mother, daughter and sister passed away peacefully Wednesday night, April 18, 2018, at St. Joseph Hospice Carpenter House in Baton Rouge after a courageous and hard fought battle with cancer. She was 50 years old and a Baton Rouge native. She was a 1985 graduate of McKinley High School. She was a resident of Denham Springs for the better part of twenty years, a dedicated Yellow Jacket fan and all-out sports mom. She worked as a stylist who enjoyed cutting children's hair and an instructor at D'Jay's Institute of Cosmetology in Baton Rouge, and a special projects coordinator at Baton Rouge Parents Magazine until starting a new career as homemaker and stay-at-home mom with her daughters. She served as a Girl Scout troop leader for many years, raised show rabbits, helped misplaced New Orleans residents following Hurricane Katrina, fostered countless litters of abandoned puppies and volunteered at the Denham Springs Animal Shelter. She later returned to work as a Livingston Parish school bus driver so that she could be home with her daughters during school breaks. She enjoyed her gardens of flowers and herbs and learning to work with essential oils. In August 2016, she lost her home to the Great Flood but rebuilt it and enjoyed making it the home of her dreams. Jonie enjoyed the simple things in life like spending time with her family and catching up with friends. She smiled easily, had an infectious laugh, rarely held back from telling you exactly what she was thinking, and had a true passion for people with an uncanny ability to fix their problems. Very few ever forgot meeting her.

She is survived by her husband of 19 years, Richard "Rick" Eugene Foster II; three daughters, Audrey Leigh Foster, Alena Caroline Foster, and Jordan Foster Garden; her mother and stepfather, Glenda Lee Hernandez Cearnal and Craig; her stepmother, Clara "Sissie" Morrison Gum; three sisters, Jamie Gum Wise, Beth Ponson Guidry, Stephanie Cearnal Wilson and Byron; two brothers, James E. Gum Jr. and John Michael "Mike" Gum and Jolee Watts Gum; two grandchildren, Aila Sky Garden and Hunter Blane Garden; many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews that she adored and who adored her; and also leaves behind her furry babies Brian, Bella and Buddy. She was preceded in death by her father James E. "Jimmy" Gum Sr.; maternal grandparents, Armand Hernandez and Marie Schillaci Hernandez; and paternal granparents, John N. Gum Sr. and Minnie Mae Lowry Gum.

Visiting at Resthaven Gardens of Memory, 11817 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, on Saturday, April 28, from 9 a.m. until service at 12 p.m., conducted by Deacon Rudolph "Rudy" Stahl, of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Denham Springs, LA and followed immediately by interment at Resthaven Gardens of Memory. Pallbearers will be James E. Gum Jr., John Michael Gum, Devin Victor Gum and Mei Gui "Nick" Xiao. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Cancer Services, 550 Lobdell Ave, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, in Jonie's name.

The family would like to extend the most sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the outpouring of love and support from her many, dear friends who lifted us up over the last few months and made this fight bearable.

Family and friends may sign the online guestbook or leave a personal note to the family at www.resthavenbatonrouge.com.

Visitation

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Saturday, April 28, 2018
9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Service

Resthaven Funeral Home
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816
Saturday, April 28, 2018
12:00 pm

Cemetery

Resthaven Gardens of Memory
11817 Jefferson Highway
Baton Rouge, LA  70816