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Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at a 12 Noon Mass of Christian Burial in The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, for Mrs. Nellie Rose Hebert Arceneaux, 89, who peacefully passed away on Wednesday evening, March 29, 2023 at her residence in Lafayette. Her loving family was at her side at the time of her death.
The Very Reverend Chester C. Arceneaux, VF, Rector of The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Church in Lafayette, will serve as Celebrant of the Mass and officiate at the services.
Mrs. Arceneaux is survived by her five children, Charlotte; Madeline; Fr. Chester; and John Arceneaux of Lafayette, LA; and Samantha Arceneaux Marine of La Mirada, CA; one son-in-law, Kerney Marine, Jr.; two grandchildren, Jon-Pierre and Jacques Francois Marine of La Mirada, CA.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles Sosthene Arceneaux; her parents, Cleobule Hebert and Eva Arceneaux Hebert of Scott; three sisters, Ana Mae Prejean, Viola Andrus, and Anna Lee Sonnier; two brothers, Lionel Hebert and Retag Hebert; one niece, Theresa Dargin and two nephews, Robley Hebert and Kenneth Sonnier.
Nellie worked at Immaculata Seminary and The Diocese of Lafayette for over 40 years at Village Du Lac. At the end of her career she received the Bishop’s Medal for her life of service to our community.
Pallbearers will be Jon-Pierre Marine, Jacques Francois Marine, Craig Arceneaux, Michael Arceneaux, Maurice Cooper and William Meyer.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Joseph Arceneaux, Raymond Hebert, Joseph Prejean, Bobby Prejean, Tony Hebert, Gregory Arceneaux and Joe Prejean.
The family requests that visitation be observed on Tuesday, April 4, 2023 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Martin & Castille’s DOWNTOWN Location. Visitation will continue on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at The Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist from 8 a.m. until time of services. A Rosary will be recited by Brady LeBlanc on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the funeral home.
Our family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to all who assisted in our mother’s care during her illness, especially Dr Milton Jolivette and his staff. A special thanks also to Dr. Lan Minh Pham who cared for mom in her final days. We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Phyllis Decuir, her nurse and caregiver.
We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has been a source of consolation to us during our time of need. We thank you, especially for all of your prayers, hugs, visits, phone calls, food, flowers and cards. Your love and presence will be treasured forever. May God continue to bless each one of you for your expressions of kindness to us.
The family will have a private interment.
View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com.
Martin & Castille Funeral Home - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, 337-234-2311.

MAURICE — Residents of Maurice who are in need of fresh fruit and vegetables, produce, eggs, milk and other perishables essential to their health and well-being can search for them inside a new community refrigerator.
That’s thanks to a group of students enrolled in Nursing 340, a community health course at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The course brings second-semester juniors in the College of Nursing & Health Sciences out of typical clinical settings and into communities. Students conduct research and assessments that inform service-learning projects.
This semester, one group of Nursing 340 students repurposed a kitchen refrigerator, installing it outside Landry’s Pharmacy, a local business that assisted the effort. On Tuesday, elected officials, community leaders and residents joined them during a ceremony to officially swing open the door of the community refrigerator. The aim is to provide free perishables for people who lack the means or capacity to access them.
Along with the refrigerator and a place to put it, students will need help making sure it stays stocked, said UL Lafayette’s Dr. Justin Fontenot, an assistant professor in the LHC Group · Myers School of Nursing who teaches Nursing 340. “The community fridge is designed to be self-sustaining via the community, which adopts it and maintains it,” he explained.
Community refrigerators are popping up across the country, including in cities like Lafayette, and towns and rural areas, Fontenot added. They address food deserts, places where some – the elderly, disabled or those without reliable vehicles – have difficulty traveling even short distances for food items. “Food deserts can exist anywhere and food insecurity can affect anyone, especially people who live alone or who have health issues,” he said.
Research conducted by Nursing 340 students backs that assessment. The course, in effect, makes entire communities a “patient.” This semester, 17 students working in four groups adopted Scott in Lafayette Parish and Abbeville, Erath and Maurice in Vermilion Parish.
In each, students perform assessments similar to one-on-one evaluation’s nurses might conduct during a patient visit. They identify a specific need based on interviews with elected leaders, health care providers and residents.
Mackenzie Lynd, a nursing major from South Point, Ohio, was among the group of students who assessed Maurice. Their observations, and data they compiled indicated the need for a community refrigerator for elderly residents, she said. The service is available to anyone, however, including residents facing financial hardship.
Students concluded that a longstanding population of elderly residents in the town have been joined by an influx of younger families in recent years. According to U.S. Census data, Maurice’s population of 964 residents in 2010 had jumped to 2,118 residents by 2020. Last year, it was officially recognized as a town, a designation for Louisiana communities of 1,000 to 5,000 residents.
“Maurice, because of its proximity to Lafayette, is developing. So, there’s a balance of people who will be able to use the fridge and people who can take care of it, picking up a few things when they’re at the grocery store and dropping them off on their way home,” Lynd explained.
Once students ascertained the viability of a community fridge, the pharmacy was one of several places they approached about serving as a host site for their donated model. “Elderly people getting a ride to pick up medication – or someone who’s running errands for them – can access the fridge at the same time.”

November 17, 1940 - February 5, 2023

CARENCRO — A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, April 2, 2023, at 12 p.m. at Evangeline Downs Racetrack in Opelousas for Doris Romaine Hebert, age 82, who passed away peacefully at his residence on Sunday, February 5, 2023, in Carencro.
There will be a Rosary at 11:45 a.m., with the service to follow immediately after.
Doris Romaine Hebert was born on November 17, 1940, in Abbeville and he was a longtime resident of Acadiana. Horses were his life. Doris started as a jockey and raced all over Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. He later became a horse trainer and proudly held that title for 60 years. Doris was a friendly man who never met a stranger. He will be dearly missed.
Doris is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Alice Hebert; his son, Chris Hebert; his step-daughter, Allison Cranney; his eight grandchildren; as well as his four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clement and Eunice Hebert; as well as his sisters, Marjorie Luquette and Joeanne Hebert.
The family wishes to offer a heartfelt thank you to everyone that has helped make the Celebration of Life possible.
Cypress Funeral Home & Crematory, 206 W. Lafayette St., Maurice, LA 70555, (337) 740-3123, is in charge of arrangements.

Sylvia Putnam is a longtime Abbeville resident.
She is also an avid tennis fan.
Through a generous donation, Putnam has helped to make tennis more enjoyable for everyone in the city that she calls home.
Putnam donated funds to the city to help complete the renovation of the tennis courts at A.A. Comeaux Park. Last year, the city council approved around $200,000 for the renovation. Putnam’s donation helped finalize the project.
“I have played tennis all my life,” Putnam said. “It is such a wonderful sport.”
Putnam previously donated funds for the tennis courts at Vermilion Catholic.
Last spring, the city hired Pro Tech Track & Tennis Surfaces to construct 5” cap post tension courts. City officials explored a public/private partnership to help wrap up the project.
“Mayor (Roslyn) White, former Mayor (Mark) Piazza and I met with Mrs. Putnam to work out the details of her assistance and ultimately that lead to the completion of the project and the beautiful recreational asset we have today,” said Councilman Brady Broussard Jr., whose district includes the park.
White, who took office as mayor last July, said this is a terrific gesture.
“We are grateful for Mrs. Sylvia’s generosity, which helped us to complete the tennis court project,” White said. “I think it was a meaningful way for her to share her love of tennis with future generations.”
Broussard agreed, wholeheartedly.
“This project is a perfect example of how private citizens can work with government in partnership to make improvements that may otherwise not be possible,” Broussard said.
The improvements are being put to good use, with the amount of activity taking place on the three courts.
“It’s rewarding to now see the tennis lessons, tennis matches and high school competitions that are occurring there with frequency,” Broussard said. “This project benefits tennis players young and old, including pickle ball players, from throughout our city and parish.”
Putnam is more than happy to take part.
“We all love Abbeville,” Putnam said.