Genealogist priest dies
Feb 24 2000 3:09PM By By JACQUELINE COCHRAN Staff Writer
The Rev. Donald Hebert, who died Tuesday, not only leaves behind those who
knew and loved him, but a collection of books that today is considered an
authoritative source of genealogical records.
"It is truly as loss of someone who was a real pioneer," said Estelle
Perrault, president of the Imperial St. Landry Genealogical and Historical
Society.
Perrault said the work completed by Hebert is unquestioned among those who
seek genealogical confirmation. "Even the national society of the Daughters
of the American Revolution require only the volume and page number when you
cite anything from Father Hebert."
Hebert, 57, served as assistant pastor and then pastor at various area
churches, including, St. Francis Regis in Arnaudville, St. Anthony in Eunice,
St. Joseph in Cecilia, Our Lady Queen of All Saints in Ville Platte and
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Mire.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday at Assumption BVM in Mire with burial
to follow in the church's cemetery. Visitation is 8 a.m. today through time
of service Friday at Assumption BVM. Our Lady Queen of All Saints Deacon
Eugene LeBoeuf said Hebert was a man with a sense of humor who enjoyed good
food and company. "He'd been to my house several times.
"When I told my daughter that he had passed away, she said she was sorry, for
when she got married that was who she wanted to marry her." Every priest
leaves their mark with someone, and with Father Hebert there were many,
LeBoeuf said.
Linda Taylor, Opelousas assistant branch librarian, said while she did not
personally know the priest, his name is most familiar as daily, people seek
his work for genealogical research. "We have up to 41 volumes of his work and
I understand he was working on a 42nd volume," she said.
Perrault said that as a priest, Hebert was permitted access to church records
few are allowed to see. She said from deteriorating registries he copied the
information. By printing and organizing these records, those who otherwise
may never have the ability to find them, need now drive only as far as their
local library. "This in the only place in the Union, someone has been able to
access such a large area of churches and publish them.
"His books are used all over the country," she said.
Perrault said Hebert's work includes nearly every church in southwest
Louisiana and even the churches of Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.
"I hope someone will be able to step in and finish what he started," Perrault
said.
©Daily World 2000