Joan Meng

Joan left this world humbly, quietly, and peacefully at her family home in Baton Rouge. Unknown to her during the time of the worldwide pandemic, her body was silently battling but gradually succumbing to cancer. She and her family only knew that she was losing energy and losing weight. After weeks of medical tests and speculation, an actual diagnosis was determined. It was inoperable Stage 4 cancer. Several internal organs had deteriorated and were barely functioning.

Baffling her doctor was the fact that Joan had not been, and was still not, in any pain. She was sent home, but it was not without hope, because for the next ten days Joan was surrounded by family and friends with unconditional love. And then, Jesus received her unto Himself, to the place He had prepared for her.

Joan led a quiet and peaceful yet a most extraordinary life. She was affiliated with Target Ministries for the last thirty years. Her heart was always drawn to the beautiful and extraordinary peoples of Asia. She served as a missionary for sixteen years, working in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and even in remote mountainous areas inside of China. After her work in the mission field, she returned to Baton Rouge in order to be supportive of her aging parents. Here she continued to work for Target Ministries by performing financial accounting and related compliance duties for over sixty missionaries around the world. She took on similar duties for missionaries affiliated with the Move with Compassion ministry. She also did the accounting and tax compliance for private companies, such as, O’Halloran Jewelry and Ric Seeling Dance Studio.

Joan was a CPA and practiced public accounting in the 1980s before becoming a Christian missionary. An honor student at ULL, she had graduated magna cum laude. She passed the CPA exam at her first sitting.

To relax and get a break from office work, she took dance lessons at Ric’s and even competed in ballroom dancing. Joan had a Shih Tzu she named “Shushi” that she had rescued from an abusive home. She nursed him back to health, and he lived to the age of thirteen. Subsequently, four years ago, Joan took in another rescue dog, named “Ollie”, who is now seven.

Joan is survived by her mother, Louise Meng; her sister Donna Meng Henderson (Michael); her brother Mark Meng (Dawn); and, by two generations of nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by her beloved and revered father, Harry Meng, whose life exemplified the love of Christ. Family and friends are invited to join in celebrating Joan’s life and God’s grace on Saturday, May 8, at First New Testament Church, 3235 Aubin Lane, Baton Rouge. Visitation is at 2 p.m. with memorial services following at 3 p.m.