John Ambrose Hebert, 103, died on June 15, 2007 at Britthaven of Chapel Hill. He was born in Terre Haute, IN in 1904, son of Joseph A. and Mabel Chewning Hebert. He attended the University of Chicago and the University of North Carolina, graduating from the latter in 1926. He majored in philosophy and continued a lifelong study of history and philosophy. He married Catherine Roy Fraser of Charlotte, NC on June 12, 1928. They lived in New Orleans for 57 years, where he was a district engineer with Southern Bell Telephone Co. In 1985, they moved to Glen Lennox Apartments in Chapel Hill. His wife Catherine died there in 1997. They were preceded in death by their son Joseph A. Hebert of Memphis, TN in 1976. John lived at Carolina House of Chapel Hill for 4 years before moving into Britthaven. He attended The Church of Reconciliation for twenty years.
He was a gentle man with a quick wit until the day he died. He was a good storyteller who enjoyed reading, writing, cooking, chess, jazz, his family and many good friends. A man of integrity, John was respected and loved by those who knew him.
His nine volumes of family history, letters and memoirs are in the North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
He is survived by his daughter Anne Hebert Smith of Hamden, CT and her husband James Dittes; and by his daughter Catherine Hebert Wells of Chapel Hill. Grandchildren include Leslie Fraser Smith of Silver Spring, MD and her husband Stephen Estrada and their daughters Carmen and Annie Smith-Estrada; his grandson Dr. Malcolm Spence Smith of Portland, OR and his partner Jan Abramovitz and their son Ari; his granddaughter Dr. Laurie MacGillivray of Memphis, TN; his grandson Dr. David A. Wells and his wife Robin and their two sons Dylan and Nicholas of Asheville, NC; another grandson John Fraser Wells and his wife Amy Westhoff Wells and their daughter live in Seattle, WA. He is also survived by his sister Alice Hebert Walton and her husband John Walton of Evansville, IN and their children and grandchildren.
His loyal caregiver/companion for 14 years was Mrs. Veora Atwater of Carrboro, NC.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Church of Reconciliation, 110 North Elliott Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 or Community Home Care and Hospice, 1777 North Fordham Blvd., Suite 107, Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
Cremation by Walker Funeral Home.
Monday, June 18th, the family gathered in the church memorial garden to bury John’s ashes near those of his wife Catherine and his brother Charles. The memorial service for friends and family will be held at a later date