Reverend T. J. Hebert

Cecilia - A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Cecilia, Louisiana, for Rev. T. J. Hebert, 103, who passed away on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Rosewood Assisted Living.

Visitation will take place at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Cecilia, beginning at 9:00 a.m. until time of service.

A Rosary, led by Philip de Mahy, will be prayed at 9:30 a.m.

The Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, will officiate the Memorial Mass at 10:00 a.m. Lectors will be Judy Cole and Dale LeBlanc.

Born to Theard Hebert and Mabel Guidry Hebert on February 2, 1923, Fr. Hebert entered St. Benedict Seminary in Covington at the age of 17, studied at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans and was ordained on June 11, 1949. Prior to his death he was the oldest living priest of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana where he served for over 77 years. His first assignment was at St. Joseph in Rayne. From there he served at St. John the Evangelist in Jeanerette, St. Nicholas in Lydia, Sacred Heart in New Iberia and St. John the Evangelist in Jeanerette consecutively. He was known for his well prepared, short homilies which always ended with a thought provoking question. His entire life he was sensitive to and an advocate for the less fortunate. He believed that God graced him with the ability to be with people in hard times.

He was a humble, compassionate man of few words with a thirst for knowledge and was a self-taught whiz at electronics and computers. Throughout his 103+ years of life he experienced the innovation of indoor plumbing and electricity in the home, the Great Depression, World War II, Vatican II, integration, landing a man on the moon, travel, technology and so much more. From each experience he learned and became the person he was. He was also a great teacher teaching to the very end job his life how to adapt to end of life issues with grace and acceptance.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Theard and Mabel Guidry Hebert, and his siblings, Floyd Hebert, Llewelyn Hebert, and Geraldine Doiron, and his cousin and dear friend, Father Floyd Calais.

Rosewood Assisted Living was where he chose to live his final years. The staff provided loving care and was his "home away from home". Thank you to the administrative staff, the nurses, the kitchen crew, who always served him first, and the housekeepers. Thank you also to the team at Hospice of Acadiana and for his exceptional caregiving team, Janee' Joe, Angela Lewis, Vickey Wiggins and Monique Bush.

He asked that any donations in is memory should be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Pellerin Funeral Home (337-332-2111) is in charge of arrangements.