Roland Francis LeBlanc, Sr.
March 9, 1925 ~ October 3, 2021
ABBEVILLE — A Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church honoring the life of Roland Francis LeBlanc, Sr., 96, who passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, October 3, 2021 - the day of the Lord's Resurrection and the feast of St. Therese of Lisieux. He was laid to rest at St. Paul Cemetery with Father Donald Bernard officiating the services.
Roland "Poly" was a lifelong resident of Abbeville. He was the son of Senator and Mrs. Dudley J. LeBlanc (Coozan Dud).
In his youth, Roland served as an altar boy at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. It was through this service that he was asked by Blessed Father Joseph LaFleur to recruit friends to establish the first boy scout troop through St. Mary Magdalen Church. Roland credits his boy scout adventures under Fr. LaFleur, including a trip to Philmont, as a basis for his character and spiritual development. He achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.
Roland graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1942 and then continued his education at Tulane University. At the age of 18, he enlisted and served in the US Navy during WWII as a corpsman assigned to the Marines in Okinawa Japan. After the war he attended LSU and graduated from Southwest Louisiana Institute with a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry.
Roland used his knowledge in chemistry working as the Chief Chemist for his father in the making of Hadacol. He fondly recalled sitting next to Hank Williams on the Hadacol Train, along with other entertainers, contributing to the lyrics of Jambalaya (on the Bayou).
He married Maxine Laura Landry in 1952 and, after a short stint in the oilfield, he began his lifelong career with New York Life Insurance Company. He was a counsel agent for 32 years, but remained in the company for a total of 60 years until 2020. Roland won many prestigious sales awards including Chair (3 years), President (23 years), and Executive Council (6 years).
Roland enjoyed national and international travel throughout his life. Roland also went on many spiritual pilgrimages inviting family members to accompany him to places such as Conyers Georgia, Rome Italy, Medjugorje, The Holy Land, Lourdes France, Garabandal Spain, and a 6-week long World Tour.
Roland was active in many community and civic affairs including serving on the board for Abbeville Building and Loan and the Abbeville Chamber of Commerce to name a few.
Roland was a devout Catholic and a charitable donor. For most of his life he was a daily recipient of Holy Communion attending morning Mass. For many years he served as a lector at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church and as a Eucharistic Minister bringing Holy Communion to the sick. He was devoted to praying The Twelve-Year Prayers of St. Bridget, of Sweden, on the Passion of Jesus for the last 15+ years. He and his son, Tommy, met together daily at 2pm for recitation of the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Holy Rosary.
Poly was an avid hunter and fisherman. He learned to hunt and fish at an early age from his father and his maternal uncle, Lester Hebert. He fished from the Vermilion Bay to the Gulf of Mexico and on many of his travel excursions around the world. Poly enjoyed his final fishing trip in the Gulf of Mexico four weeks prior to his death. He passed down this love to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was a man who enjoyed life, loved to entertain and host anyone who was willing to join his party. His life centered around his family. He raised his seven children after the death of his beloved wife, Maxine, in 1971. Poly loved telling jokes, giving toasts for special occasions and fixing his "specialty" punch for family gatherings. He was a HUGE LSU football fan. When he stopped tailgating, he continued to passionately watch the Tigers from his home. He enjoyed playing tennis, golf, and many other sports that kept him active.
Roland is survived by six children, Leah LeBlanc Foster, Roland F. LeBlanc Jr., Terrence J. LeBlanc (Kitty), Theresa LeBlanc Rabeaux (Randy), Laura LeBlanc McLain (Allen), and Thomas D. LeBlanc (Barbara); twenty-nine grandchildren, and fifty great-grandchildren. He is survived by his siblings, Kay Jarrell, Jean LeBlanc (Mike), Bertha Curley, and Morgan LeBlanc (Carol), sister-in-law, Claudette LeBlanc; and numerous nieces and nephews who played an important role in his life. He is also survived by a family friend of many years, Arthurine Sirmon.
Roland was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine Landry LeBlanc; parents, Dudley J. and Evelyn Hebert LeBlanc; brother, Dudley J. LeBlanc Jr.; son, Stephen Marshall LeBlanc; great-granddaughter, Kaylee Abigail McLain; daughter-in-law, Melissa Hebert LeBlanc; and son-in-law, Samuel M. Foster.
The family requested that visiting hours be observed at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret St., Abbeville on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from 9:00 AM until time of services.
The family offers a heartfelt thanks to Dr. Joseph Brierre, Lourdes Hospice (Meg, Gary, and Marie), Fathers Donald Bernard and Louis Richard for their selfless attention and spiritual care.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, 300 Pere Megret Street, Abbeville LA 70510.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.vincentfuneralhome.net.
All funeral arrangements were conducted by Vincent Funeral Home of Abb