Hebert, Elaine M.

Elaine Marie (Hazel) Hebert

July 22, 1939 – January 9, 2026

Elaine Marie (Hazel) Hebert, 86, went peacefully to be with her Lord on January 9, 2026, with her beloved husband, Gary, by her side. 

Elaine was born on July 22, 1939, in Milford, Massachusetts, to the late Lloyd and Lorena (Bultman) Hazel. She is survived by her devoted and beloved husband of 63 years, Gary Hebert, her four children Michael (Barbara Jean) Hebert, Mark Hebert, Scott Hebert, and Beth (James) Agostino, as well as her eight, adored grand-children Alexandra (Megan) Hebert, John (Katie Grover) Hebert, Megan Hebert, Andrew Hebert, Tatiana Agostino, Michael Agostino, Ethan Hebert and William Hebert, and her two precious great-grand-children Wyatt Hebert and Bailee Hebert.

In addition to her parents, Elaine was predeceased by her brothers, Richard and David Hazel along with many beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who were very dear to her. She also leaves behind many of her extended Hazel and Hebert family and life-long friends who meant the world to her.

Elaine spent her earliest years in Medford, Massachusetts before moving to Charlestown, Massachusetts as a youngster after her father was deployed overseas with the United States Marine Corps during World War II. She was a spunky and intelligent child who learned at a young age how to work hard and be self-disciplined in order to help her family during and after the difficult war years. She helped her mom with daily household chores as well as helping care for her younger brothers, Richard and David Hazel, whom she loved very much. She learned she could make do and still be happy with very little and also learned many skills the family relied on to get by, including baking and selling pies locally as a young girl to pitch in financially.

Later she moved with her family to Needham, Massachusetts where her father had built a home using his brilliant skills as a carpenter and jack of all trades. Elaine was an avid apprentice to her parents and eventually mastered the arts of cooking, baking, sewing, needlepoint, painting, wall papering, grouting, etc. She was proud of her personal toolbox and there was no household job she was afraid to take on. She put all her talents to work for her family and community over a lifetime of raising her children with devotion, maintaining a vibrant and beautiful home, planning and hosting fabulous holidays and parties, and generously giving back to the community. She lived her beliefs which included rooting for the underdog, treating all as equals and not judging a book by its cover. 

It was as a teenager at Needham High School that she met the love of her life, Gary Hebert. They became high school sweethearts, and their 70-year love affair was off and running. She went to secretarial school after high school and then worked diligently and expertly for high-profile businessmen who relied heavily on her skills behind the scenes. After Gary graduated college, she excitedly jumped at the chance to become his life-partner, and they were happily married in their early twenties. Their adventures started immediately as Gary joined the Marine Corps and off they went to Pensacola, Florida for his flight school training and later to be stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. She was his rock and anchor, setting up their first of many homes and caring for their growing family with pride and joy as he became a helicopter pilot. She leaned on her discipline and inner strength to hold down the fort with two small children while Gary was deployed to fight in Vietnam. Elaine was a proud and honorable military wife and true patriot, faithfully doing her considerable part to uphold their commitment to, and love of, freedom and country, serving bravely and humbly.

Elaine’s greatest pride and joy was her family. She dedicated herself to providing the best she could for her husband and children while maintaining wonderful connections with extended family on both sides. She supported Gary’s long, post-military career at IBM and his life-long participation in sports; and her children were given every opportunity possible. She enjoyed their successes and proudly decorated her home with memorabilia of all their achievements. She was overjoyed when grandchildren arrived and happily spent time with them whether it was cooking and baking, caring for them, watching sports and movies, playing all sorts of games, doing arts and crafts, cheering at their activities, showering them with gifts, and especially having heartfelt conversations about real life. She loved to give of herself in this way and always wanted the best for all her kids and grandkids.

Sharing a love of animals and nature with her husband, they raised their children to feel the same. She held a deep respect for all life, even the tiniest spider, and marveled at the beauty all around us. She especially loved a six-week camping trip taken after her kids were grown, exploring the wild beauty of the western U.S.; and even managed to pick up a stray kitty along the way to bring home. Elaine’s home was always blessed with the presence of beloved pets of all sorts who were part of the fabric of everyday family life, and there was always room for one more. Elaine’s connection and love for her four-legged loves, especially her sweet kitties and pups, made a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.

True to form, Elaine bravely and stoically faced the myriad of medical challenges which befell her in the last years of her life. Despite the difficulties, she rarely complained and remained an amazing example of inner resolve to get up and fight for each day, never quit or give up on herself and to continue living and enjoying life and others much as she always had with grit, compassion, humor, and gusto. Elaine’s family is profoundly grateful for the wonderful caregivers who allowed her to remain in her home, living with dignity and comfort to the end.

Elaine will be remembered as a powerful force with an incredible depth of emotion and heart who made a lasting impact on those she encountered. She was intelligent, curious, disciplined, daring and brave, sassy, and lived life in a real and unapologetic way. She had an infectious grin and a gorgeous belly laugh; and embraced the messiness of life as a beautiful truth. As tough and lively as she was, she also had a special way of knowing when someone was in need and provided true comfort with her special hugs, gentle love-pats and words of wisdom, helping so many have faith in themselves and that it would be alright. She would not want us to be sad this part is over, but to be glad it happened, and to know that love conquers all.  

Calling Hours will be held at the Richard H. Keenan Funeral Home, 7501 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd, Fairport, NY on Thursday, January 22, 2026 from 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Saint Louis Catholic Church, 64 South Main St, Pittsford, NY on Friday, January 23, 2026 at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Rite of Committal at White Haven Cemetery, Pittsford, NY. All are warmly invited to attend all services and to join the family afterward for fellowship, lunch and refreshments at Mulconry’s Irish Pub and Restaurant in Fairport, NY.

For those who cannot attend, the Friday, 9:30 a.m. funeral mass will be streamed live on the St. Louis Church facebook page. You may access this via their website (https://stlouischurch.org/) and then click the facebook icon in the upper right corner of the screen (looks like the letter “f”

In lieu of flowers, please consider sending donations to ASPCA, K9’s For Warriors, Semper Fi & America’s Fund or World Wildlife Fund in memory of Elaine Hebert.