Obituary of Wilbert-Pierre Hebert

MAURICE - Funeral services will be held at a 2 p.m. Mass Friday, July 1, 2005, at St. Alphonsus Church in Maurice for Wilbert Pierre Hebert, 82, beloved father and grandfather who died Wednesday, June 29, 2005, at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center.The Rev. Joe Breaux will serve as celebrant and the Reverends Bill Ruskowski and George Simon will serve as con-celebrants.Lectors and servers at the Mass will be his granddaughters, Kristie Desormeaux and Laury Hebert, and grandsons, Leonard Hebert and Trent Hebert.Soloist, Tammy Maturin, accompanied by Willie Broussard for a special rendition of the hymn, "Au'Ciel". Other selections will be "A Closer Walk With Thee", "Be Not Afraid" and "On Eagle's Wings".He was born Sept. 22, 1922 in the town of Milton to the late Pierre and Naomi Fabre Hebert. He graduated from Maurice High School in 1940 and was married to the former LauraBelle Bonin in 1942. Together they had nine children.Will, sometimes affectionately called "Will-Pierre", was a rice farmer in the Maurice community all of his life. He also farmed soybeans and crawfish and he loved his vocation. His first laguage was French and he preferred to speak it than English. He served on the board of directors of the Farm Bureau and Cattleman's Association and was a member of the Knights of Columbus of St. Alphonsus and Woodmen of the World Lodge No. 714.He was a member of St. Alphosus Catholic Church where he once served in a men's choir and usher. His Catholic faith, his "joie de vie" and his family brought him through many tragedies; the loss of an 18 month old son, John Keith, in an accidental drowning in 1949; two sons, Leonard and Timmy, in a plane crash on the farm in 1980; a daughter, Melissa, and his beloved wife, LauraBelle, in 1988.His favorite pastime was playing cards especially "booray" with family and friends. He loved to "tease" and always had a friendly smile or greeting for whomever he met. He never met anyone he didn't like and was was gentle as a lamb to all who knew him. His last words to the nurses before leaving this world was "I love you".Will is survived by two sons, Cecil James Hebert and wife, Gayle Ledet Hebert, of Maurice, and Dane Louis Hebert and wife, Lisa Hebert Hebert, of Maurice; three daughters, Brenda Hebert Desormeaux and husband, Harris, of Maurice, Jan Hebert Meaders and husband, David, of Lafayette, and Bonnie Hebert Brown and husband, Rusty, of Lafayette; one sister, Velma "Sis" H. Duhon; 30 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Rena Landry. He was affectionately know by his grandchildren as "Paw Paw" and he dearly loved being surrounded by all of them.He was preceded in death by three sons, John Keith, Leonard and Timmy; one daughter, Melissa; his wife, the former LauraBelle Bonin; his parents, Pierre and Naomi Fabre Hebert; two sisters, Florence "Flo" H. Baumgardner and Louella "Lou" H. Broussard Romero.Visitation was observed from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. Thursday and will continue from 10 a.m. today until time of services.A rosary was recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at Vincent Funeral Home.A memorial fund has been established in Will and LauraBelle's name for the 4-H Club Extension Service of Vermilion Parish and The Women's Center of Lafayette, 1018 Harding St., Suite 102, Lafayette, LA 70503.We, the family, would like to thank the staff of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center for their help and support.Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Kent Desormeaux, Blair Hebert, Jarod Hebert, Cain Hebert, Jeremy Meaders and Roland LeBlanc III.Vincent Funeral Home, 209 S. St. Charles, Abbeville, (337) 893-4661, is in charge of arrangements