ERATH—  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held for Hazel Lee Hebert, 83, at 2 p.m. today at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church with the Rev. Wayne Duet officiating. Michelle Theriot is the scripture reader and Nicole Toups, Jamie Porter and Christie Bourg are gift bearers. Entombment will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Mausoleum.  

Visiting hours were held Wednesday from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. with a recitation of the rosary at 7 p.m. at David Funeral Home of Erath.Visitation will continue today from 9 a.m. with a rosary recited at 10 a.m. until time of service.

A native of Elton and a resident of Erath Mrs. Hazel died Tuesday, July 1, 2008  at 11:15 p.m. at a Lafayette Hospital. Mrs. Hebert served as the Public Housing Management executive director of the Housing Authority of the town of Erath and she was instrumental in planning the Erath hospital and nursing home.

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She also served as the administrator of both facilities. Her interest in health care began during World War II,

when she was a war bride. She and the late Eldridge Hebert married in 1942, just prior to his induction as a medic in the U.S. Army. As a war bride, she followed him throughout the United States, while he worked in Army hospitals. She became interested in health care and began working as an admittance clerk at Longview Hammon Hospital in Texas. She began working in a local drugstore that was connected to a new doctor’s office, where she served as a French interpreter for Dr. Lahasky.

 Later, Hebert assisted in obtaining grants and in planning the construction of the first low rent housing in Erath. She received her public housing management certification from Louisiana State University and LSU at Alexandria and continued to serve as the executive director of the Housing Authority in Erath. In addition, Hebert served as a member of the board of directors of the Louisiana Nursing Home Association, the board of trustees of the Erath Memorial Hospital and the board of directors of the Vermilion Parish Health Unit. She also served as a preceptor to 13 nursing home administrators, who are still serving in that capacity. She also has trained CETA students in preparation for work in nursing homes and hospitals. She served on the Unmet Needs Committee of the United Way of Acadiana. She was also a member of the Vermilion Chamber of Health Medication Committee. She was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, where she had served on the board of directors and was a trustee.

She was a member of the Catholic Daughters Society and had taught catechism. She has been honored as a professional in the National Register of Who’s Who in Executive Business. She was also a recipient if the TLC of Lafayette ACE award in 1992. In March 2002, she was inducted into the Order of Living Legends at the Acadian Museum in Erath.

She is survived by her sons, Tony Hebert and  wife Sandra and Marcus Hebert and fiancée Melanie Huval all of Erath; daughters, Jackie and husband Herman Theriot of Erath and Liz and husband Darson Schexnayder of Delcambre; 14 grandchildren; nine great- grandchildren; and step- children, Bobby Thibodeaux and wife Janell of Lake Authur and Danny Thibodeaux and wife Vicki of Parks.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Levi and Bertha Nunez Lee; first husband, Eldridge Hebert; second husband Walter Thibodeaux; brothers, Adam, Rene, Anias, Stanley and Clyde Duplechin and sisters, Eunice Palmer, Gladys Duplechin and Lena Duplechin.

Pallbearers will be Todd Hebert, Brodie Theriot, Richie Theriot, Matt Hebert, Hank Schexnayder, Cole Schexnayder and John Toups.

Honorary pallbearers will be Authur Prejean, Allen Ray Hebert, Nicky Bourg and Tyson Huval.

You may sign the guest register book and express condolences online at www.davidfuneralhome.com

David Funeral Home of Erath, 209 E. Putnam St. (337) 937-0405 is in charge of the arrangements.