CEMETERIES AND MAUSOLEUMS

In the fall of 1969 the Parish Council took over the Cemetery Committee with Mr. Clarence LaBauve as chairman.  He was assisted by Mr. Landry Bernard and Mr. Laurent Barbe.  The parish cemetery is officially named Our Lady of Prompt Succor Cemetery.

The parish expressed its debt of gratitude to Mr. George Minet for initiating record keeping, to Mr. Garvin Lefort for producing up-to-date maps of the cemetery, and to Mrs. Joyce Hebert for finishing the files and records on the cemetery.

The cemetery was totally mapped and each plot was numbered.  Titles of ownership were issued to owners able to prove ownership.  Requests were mailed to all on the cemetery list asking that one and all check with the church office and register their plots.  Many people responded to this request and helped in determining the present owners and/or heirs of the plots in the cemetery.

The cemetery committee met regularly and considered all aspects of the cemetery. It reviewed the history of the cemetery, checked OLPS financial condition, and became involved in the work of planning for the cemetery on a long range basis.

Experience made it very evident that the Parish would profit from an advisory committee on the cemetery.  The following men were invited to compose this committee: Messrs. Laurent Barbe, Clem Guillot, Alfred Haydel, Jr., Chester Lataxes, Clarence LaBauve, and Landry J. Bernard, Jr.  The first meeting of the committee took place on January 31, 1968.  Mr. Clarence LaBauve was selected as chairman and Mr. Alfred Haydel, Jr., as secretary.

Contract discussions to build a mausoleum on the afore-mentioned property were held between Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish and Progressive Sales Organization, a subsidiary of Alfortish Marble and Granite Company.  During the time the contract was being prepared between Our Lady of Prompt Succor and Progressive Sales, the trustees of the Parish – Messrs. Lance Bourgeois, Eldon Majoue, Louis Haik, and Lewar Arceneaux - worked with Rev. Fr. John L. Newfield in reviewing all aspects of the contract. The contract was signed on January 3, 1968, with Mr. Dan Alfortish signing for Progressive Sales Organization and Rev. John L. Newfield signing for Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church. The Gates of Heaven Mausoleum was built, and it was dedicated by Archbishop Philip M. Hannan on November 1, 1969.  Two phases of expansion to the Gates of Heaven have been added since completion of the original construction.

Besides the property mentioned above in the Zeringue or Sala Plantation, the cemetery also has part of the Whitehouse Plantation on Avenue A and Fifth Street.  This property contained houses until Hurricane Betsy destroyed them in September 1965.  This land has been associated with the cemetery and was cleared of old construction thereon.

Part of Lot 19 was bought by Alfortish Marble and Granite Company. The parish Church worked out a contract by which this company was permitted to use the Cemetery entrance on Fifth Street so that a Mausoleum could be constructed.  This mausoleum is named after Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish, called Our Lady of Prompt Succor Mausoleum, and is owned by Alfortish.

Lot 17 was acquired by the Church of Our Lady of Prompt Succor in an Act of Sale by Pierre Hymel to the Church, on November 3, 1943.  This section of the cemetery represents a development of tombs by Alfortish Marble and Granite Company.  This lot measures 100’ wide by 326’ deep, and is part of Cemetery No.  2.

On November 2, 1931, 14 heirs of the original 12 donors signed a legal document donating Lots 13 and 15to OLPS Parish.  This property had also been bought from Joseph A. Lelong by the 12 men mentioned above, and the 14 donors were:  Mrs. Amelia Eloi François, Mrs. Amelia Eloi Huber, Mrs. Cecilia Eloi Martin, Mrs. Marie Terrebonne Ory, Roy Terrebonne, Sr., Paul H. Eloi, Percy W. Eloi, Andrew Currault, Isidore Currault, L. Lefort, Mrs. Ida Lefort Barrios, Mrs. Julie Lefort Prosperie, Mrs. Mary Decuers Bye, and Louis A. Sandras.  The tract of land comprised of Lots 11, 13, and 15, is now referred to as the “old cemetery” or Cemetery No. 1.  
 
Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish (established February 8, 1920).
On March 19, 1921, Lot 11 was donated by St. Joseph Church to the new
On the northwest corner of this site, on June 7, 1906, the Very Reverend Canon J. B. Bogaerts dedicated a new chapel as the Church of Our Lady of Prompt Succor, a mission of St. Joseph Church.  A cemetery was then established on the southwest corner of the lot, part of Cemetery No. 1.
Theophile Stenmans in the name of St. Joseph Church.   

Zealous Father Ehrhart of St. Joseph Church of Gretna (mother church for the West Bank of Jefferson Parish) realized that a church was needed for the people of the Westwego area, so he acquired property through a donation on the east bank of the Company Canal, on Laroussini Street, with the intention of building a chapel there.  On February 23, 1905, Lot 11, on the northern side of the cemetery facing Laroussini Street, and measuring 100’x320’, was donated by 12 Westwego men to St. Joseph Church to be used for a church and presbytery in Westwego.  The 12 men – Hypolite Eloi, Victorin A. Pitre, Ernest Lefort, Andre Curol, Leo Decures, Adrien Ortiz, Adrien Curol, Victor Arnaudin, J. Dupre Terrebonne, Felicien Sandras, Leograd Pitre, Edouard Pitre – had bought the lot from Alphonse A. Lelong on June 16, 1902.    The donation was accepted by Fr.

Our Lady of Prompt Succor Parish Cemetery merits special consideration in the history of Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church Parish.  Along Laroussini Street are lots forming part of the Zeringue or Sala Plantation.  Edgar Pilie surveyed this land on October 29, 1896, and subdivided it into lots. The cemetery comprises Lots 11, 13, 15, and 17 on Laroussini Street.

All cemetery business is now handled by the parish Administrative Assistant, Dana Brown.  Please feel free to call her at
(504)341-9522 or email at [email protected] for all inquiries.