Hébert, Gordon
Joseph Leo, 85, West Amherst,
NS – Gordon died on August
1, 2021 in All Saints Hospital in Springhill, following a
three month illness. Born in Joggins, on April 28, 1936, he was the
youngest son of Cecil and Lea (Doiron) Hébert. The last
surviving member of his family, he was predeceased by his parents; his
brothers, Abbey, Jude, and Arthur, and sisters Susan (Hubley) and Alma
(Kohout).
Gordon’s journey was filled
with a lifetime of adventure. His work as Vice-President of Sales
& Marketing at Poly Cello Ltd (now Emmerson Packaging) gave
him an opportunity to travel throughout North America, Europe, and the
Caribbean. Along the way, he made lifelong friends, especially in
Barbados, which he considered to be a second home. No matter how far
he travelled, he never forgot where he came
from.
Home was the most important place to
Gord, especially when family was there. He loved spending time with
his siblings and their children when they came to visit near his
mother’s family home in Dupuis Corner during the summer. He
loved impromptu picnics with his family near the fossil cliffs in
Joggins, teaching his kids to dig for clams along the Northumberland
Strait, or exploring the back roads of Nova
Scotia.
His love of home and family manifested
through decades of research into Hébert genealogy and
Acadian history. His Acadian roots were incredibly important to him,
and he leaves us volumes of research tracing our family back to La
Rochelle, France, prior to our arrival in Acadie in 1648. He leaves an
impressive archive of local history which his children have pledged to
care for and continue. For almost three decades, he was involved with
the Association de la famille Hébert, and he played a key
organizing role in the Hébert reunion during the
Congrès Mondial Acadien 2004, making connections with
family across North America. In 2016, Gord was recognized as Volunteer
of the Year by the Fédération des Associations
de Familles Acadiennes for his work to preserve and publicize the
history of Beaubassin. That work led to the installation of a large
illuminated white cross at the Nova Scotia-New Brunswick border to
honour the more than 1000 Acadians who were deported from their homes
in that area. His research also played a critical role in having
Beaubassin recognized by Parks Canada as a national historic site.
Gord loved that he could look out at Beaubassin and Fort
Beauséjour from his home in West Amherst, and felt he had a
responsibility to make sure the lives of the people who’d
lived there were not forgotten.
With him along every step of his journey
for the past 63 years was his beloved wife, Adrienne (Copp). Gord was
devoted to Adrienne, and his love for her was an inspiration. In
recent years, as Adrienne’s health failed, Gord was her
primary caregiver and was determined that they would stay together, in
the home they loved, for as long as possible. As his own illness
progressed, his main concern was always for Adrienne’s
welfare.
Gord overcame many obstacles in his life
– there were health issues along the way and the loss of
people he loved. He modeled resilience for his children and
always gently pushed us to achieve our potential. Gord was known to be
a bit stubborn and would never give up when faced with a challenge. A
series of strokes, followed by a brain tumour were the only challenges
that ever defeated him, although he remained our funny, loving,
handsome, and proud father until the very end.
Some of Gord’s happiest
moments were when a baby was placed in his arms. Each new family
member was a link between the past and the future. Thank you, Dad, for
passing along your sense of adventure, passion for travel, love of
history, and a deep attachment to our Acadian
heritage.
Gord is survived by his beloved wife,
Adrienne (Copp); his children: Patricia (Kerry Morash) of Beach
Meadows; son John (Rose) of Schomberg, Ont.; and daughter, Michelle of
Halifax. He will be greatly missed by his grandchildren, Laura Morash,
Kathryn Wolf, Amanda Hébert, and Ainsley and Elliott Boyd;
as well as his adored great-granddaughters, Arabella and Hayden Wolf.
His memory will also be cherished by many cousins, nieces, and nephews
across North America.
We love you Papa, and we will miss
you.
Arrangements have been entrusted to
Jones Family Funeral Centre, Amherst, NS
(902-667-8777). Public Funeral Mass will be celebrated from St. Thomas
Aquinas Roman Catholic Church, Joggins, on Tuesday, August
17th, at 11 a.m. Pre-registration is required,
please e-mail or call the funeral home to register. Masks are
mandatory, and COVID Regulations will be followed. A private family
burial will follow in St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery.
Donations in memory of Gordon may be
made to the Canadian Cancer Society, the Heart and Stroke Foundation,
or Diabetes Canada.
Condolences, and sharing of memories may
be sent to the family by visiting Gordon’s online memorial
at www.jonesfamilyfuneralcentre.ca or through the Jones Family Funeral Centre Facebook
Page.
1936 2021
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Gordon Hebert 1936 2021..
Décès pour la Ville: Amherst, Province: Nova Scotia