My Wonderful Grandfather... A true man of God with a gentle and tender spirit...this is what comes to mind when I remember my paternal grandfather.Thomas was born in Saint-David,d'Yamaska, Quebec, Canada to Jean-Baptiste Hebert and Marie Hebert (Richard). He immigrated to the United States in 1907 . Thomas married Alexina Matteau on 7 May 1917 at St. John the Baptist Church in West Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island. They had six children, Joseph, Gert, Rita, Yvonne, Raymond and Leon. Thomas had a workshop behind his home and was in the business of food preparation to sell to stores. Some items were pickles, vinegar, nuts, cherries and coffee syrup. (Only a true Rhode Islander can appreciate the coffee syrup!)He did not serve in the war because of his right arm. As a young boy his arm was broken and never set properly and this caused his arm to be smaller and weaker. My grandfather LOVED THE LORD and would walk to mass EVERY morning at 7:00 no matter what the weather. He was highly regarded in the community and loved by all. He supported missionaries around the world. At Christmas he would sing the old French Carol; "Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant" to me. That old French carol is so special to me... On New Years' Eve the entire family would gather at his home and there would be square dancing and he would call in French. My most memorable memory is his blessing. On New Year's Day each of his six children would kneel before him and he would pray a special blessing over them and their families. He would start with the oldest and then end with the youngest child. I can still see my father kneeling before his father to receive his blessing...a precious, beautiful memory of a precious, beautiful man... My grandfather is also a descendant of AUGUSTIN HEBERT dit JOLICOEUR and ADRIENNE du VIVIER...
My Wonderful Grandfather... A true man of God with a gentle and tender spirit...this is what comes to mind when I remember my paternal grandfather.Thomas was born in Saint-David,d'Yamaska, Quebec, Canada to Jean-Baptiste Hebert and Marie Hebert (Richard). He immigrated to the United States in 1907 . Thomas married Alexina Matteau on 7 May 1917 at St. John the Baptist Church in West Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island. They had six children, Joseph, Gert, Rita, Yvonne, Raymond and Leon. Thomas had a workshop behind his home and was in the business of food preparation to sell to stores. Some items were pickles, vinegar, nuts, cherries and coffee syrup. (Only a true Rhode Islander can appreciate the coffee syrup!)He did not serve in the war because of his right arm. As a young boy his arm was broken and never set properly and this caused his arm to be smaller and weaker. My grandfather LOVED THE LORD and would walk to mass EVERY morning at 7:00 no matter what the weather. He was highly regarded in the community and loved by all. He supported missionaries around the world. At Christmas he would sing the old French Carol; "Il Est Ne, Le Divin Enfant" to me. That old French carol is so special to me... On New Years' Eve the entire family would gather at his home and there would be square dancing and he would call in French. My most memorable memory is his blessing. On New Year's Day each of his six children would kneel before him and he would pray a special blessing over them and their families. He would start with the oldest and then end with the youngest child. I can still see my father kneeling before his father to receive his blessing...a precious, beautiful memory of a precious, beautiful man... My grandfather is also a descendant of AUGUSTIN HEBERT dit JOLICOEUR and ADRIENNE du VIVIER...
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