Marietta M. LeBreton

NATCHITOCHES – Funeral services will be held for Dr. Marietta LeBreton Wednesday, March 11 at noon at Holy Cross Church in Natchitoches with Rev. Jason Gootee officiating and Thursday, March 12 at noon at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel in New Orleans. Visitation will be at Holy Cross on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services and on Thursday from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home Chapel. Dr. LeBreton died Thursday after a brief illness. She is survived by two brothers, Capt. Guy Joseph LeBreton Jr. (U.S.N. Ret.) of San Francisco, Calif., and Arthur James LeBreton of Lafayette, nine nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews and her beloved dog Belle. Dr. LeBreton was preceded in death by one brother, Hilliard A. LeBreton, her father, Guy Joseph LeBreton Sr., and her mother, Marietta Schneidau LeBreton. She was a member of Northwestern State University’s faculty for more than 45 years, one of the longest tenures in the university’s history. Dr. LeBreton joined Northwestern’s faculty in 1963 as an instructor of social science. She was promoted to assistant professor of history in 1965, associate professor in 1970 and full professor in 1973. Dr. LeBreton served as head of the Department of History from 1980 until 1983 when she returned to the classroom. She was interim director of the School of Social Sciences in 2004-05. Dr. LeBreton contributed to the university’s history as the author of “Northwestern State University: A History 1884-1984,” which was published in 1985 by the NSU Press to commemorate Northwestern’s 100th anniversary. Dr. LeBreton was the author of “The Acadians” for the Harvard Encyclopedia of American Ethnic Groups published by the Harvard University Press, “Bayou Dorcheat” for “Rivers and Bayous of Louisiana” and “The Burr Conspiracy” for the volume “Readings in Louisiana History.” She was associate editor of “Reading in Louisiana History” published by the Louisiana Historical Association. LeBreton wrote a position paper on Article III of Louisiana’s 1812 Constitution for “Edwin W. Edwards, The Role of the Governor in Louisiana Politics: A Historical Analysis” for the journal Louisiana History in 1974. Memorials may be made to: Holy Cross Catholic Church, 129 Second Street, Natchitoches, LA 71457 or the Louisiana SPCA.