Obituary

Joseph Cazenavette
November 9, 1967 - December 3, 2017


Father Joseph Emile Cazenavette J.D., age 50, passed away on December 3, 2017 at his parents’ home in Bush, Louisiana.
Father Joseph is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, George J. Cazenavette, Jr. and Marion Ayala Cazenavette; maternal grandparents, Emile Edward Laterrade and Evelyn Savoca Laterrade; step-grandparent, William Helmer, Sr.; step-uncle, William Helmer, Jr.; aunt and uncle, Bertha and Allen Wohlschlegel.
Father Joseph is survived by his parents, George and Cindy Cazenavette, III; brother, George James Cazenavette, IV (Cynthia); nephews and God Children, George James Cazenavette, V, Thomas Anthony Cazenavette; nieces and God Children, Elizabeth Eloise Cazenavette, Margaret Nicole Cazenavette and Mary Grace Cazenavette; God Child David Gauthreaux, Jr.; aunt, Kay Cazenavette Gauthreaux; step-aunt, Cecilia Helmer Matherne (Jay); step-uncle, Calvin Helmer (Gail); step-aunt, Guadalupe Helmer.
Father Joseph graduated from Tulane University with Bachelor’s degrees in mathematics and political science. After graduation from Tulane University, he graduated from The University of Virginia Law School earning a Juris Doctorate.
Father Joseph served in the United States Air Force as a Captain assigned to the Judge Advocate Office-JAG (attorney). Following his service to the USAF, he practiced Corporate Law and also was in private practice. After private practice, he was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. In August of 2000, he entered the Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana and was ordained a Priest for life on June 4, 2005. Father Joseph was the Parochial Vicar for St. Edward the Confessor Parish in Metairie, Louisiana and next assigned as Parochial Vicar for Our Lady of the Lake Parish in Mandeville, Louisiana. In May of 2012, Father Joseph was assigned to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington D.C. At the USCCB, Father Joseph served as Policy Advisor for Marriage and Family in the Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, serving in specific, the Subcommittee for the Promotion and Defense of Marriage.
Friends and family are invited to attend a Funeral Mass on Thursday, December 7, 2017 at 12:30 pm at St. Rita’s Catholic Church, 7100 Jefferson Hwy., Harahan, Louisiana. Visitation will be held prior to the service and will begin at 10:00 am until 12:00 pm and a Rosary beginning at 12:00 pm. Interment will follow at St. Joseph Abbey Cemetery in St. Benedict, Louisiana.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lasallian Christian Brothers Retirement Home at St. Paul’s High School, Covington, Louisiana.