Father Jeanfreau: The love and the laugh

By Peter Finney Jr.
Clarion Herald

Those who knew Father Jimmy Jeanfreau said he had a zest for life manifested through his love for parishioners and students at Immaculate Conception Parish in Marrero as well as through his tireless support of the church’s universal call for Catholics to be missionaries for the faith.

“Father Jimmy was a homegrown missionary who lived life to the fullest,” said Kristie Vollentine, who worked with Father Jeanfreau in his role as executive director of the archdiocesan Pontifical Mission Societies. “He embraced his life of mission with a zeal like no other. He loved his family, his faith communities, his brother priests, his church parish and his mission office as if all of these were gifts from God.”

Father Jeanfreau, 60, died Nov. 28 in an accident in his woodworking shop on the grounds of Immaculate Conception Parish. The Jefferson Parish Coroner’s Office classified his death as accidental blunt-force trauma.

Father Jeanfreau’s body was found in his woodworking shop on the morning of Nov. 29 by Scott Walker, the athletic director at Immaculate Conception, who played tennis regularly with Father Jeanfreau when he became pastor of the Marrero parish eight years ago.

“We hit it off immediately because we are both serious tennis players,” Walker said. “I was in my P.E. class, and he walked into the gym with this big, booming voice, he said, ‘Hey, I’m Father Jimmy, and I play serious tennis. You want to play in a tennis tournament?’ We were great friends ever since.”

Competitive and fun
Father Jeanfreau was so competitive that sometimes opponents in doubles matches did not know his true identity, Walker said.

“A lot of times you don’t know the guys you’re playing, and you just introduce yourselves and you start playing,” Walker said. “So, we’re playing competitive tennis, and a guy misses, and he’s cursing like a sailor. Inevitably, on a changeover, the question gets asked, ‘So, what do you guys do?’ And I say, ‘I’m an athletic director at a school, and this is my boss.’ They say, ‘He’s the principal?’ And Father Jimmy says, ‘No, I’m the pastor.’ And then their faces just drop.”

Laugh was hit with the kids
Kim DiMarco, principal of Immaculate Conception School, said she will always remember Father Jeanfreau’s “very distinctive laugh” that was such a hit with students.

“He was always cracking jokes, and he loved the children,” DiMarco said. “He would come by with his dog during recess with the kids. When he came barreling through the hallways, the teachers had to brace themselves because they’d have to calm down the children after he was there. He was so boisterous and had such a generous heart.”

“He was a joy to work for,” added parish secretary Dolores Modenbach. “He had so much patience. He would have files all over the place, and I’d walk into his office and say, ‘I need a moment,’ and he would turn away from his computer and say, ‘What do we have here?’”

Father Jeanfreau, who had a master’s degree in oceanographic engineering, used his woodworking skills not just as a hobby to relax but also to create gifts for friends and coworkers. He hand-crafted large and small pieces – candy bowls for the desk, dip bowls, a chopping board, a school bell with a wooden handle and holder, jewelry cases – and often sold them to raise funds at parish events.

He signed each piece with a wooden stamp of a large tree encircled by the words: “Handcrafted by Fr. Jimmy-NOLA.”

“He was always making gifts,” DiMarco said. “He actually built a small pond that he filled with water and coy fish. I think we’re going to name it Father Jimmy’s Mission Pond.”

Father Jimmy’s parents, James J. Jeanfreau Sr. and Barbara A. Gravois, are deceased. He is survived by his siblings Karen Jeanfreau Bonneval (Floyd), Alan Jeanfreau (Angie), Brian Jeanfreau (Leslie), Troy Jeanfreau and Father Greg Daigle, an unofficially “adopted” brother of the family.

Had master’s in engineering
Father Jeanfreau attended St. Mary Magdalen School in Metairie and St. John Vianney Prep and East Jefferson High School. He attended Louisiana State University, Florida Atlantic University, Duke University and Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans.

He earned a bachelor of science degree in engineering, a master’s in oceanographic engineering from Florida Atlantic and a master of divinity from Notre Dame Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New Orleans on May 30, 1992, and served as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish in Belle Chasse, St. Catherine of Siena in Metairie and St. Luke the Evangelist in Slidell.

His pastorates were at St. Jerome in Kenner and Immaculate Conception in Marrero. Father Jeanfreau also served as chaplain at Cabrini High School, Pope John Paul II High School and Ursuline Academy.

His mission work blossomed when he served in Bolivia with the Missionary Society of St. James the Apostle and was the associate director and later director of the Pontifical Mission Societies.

“His passion for life was infectious,” Vollentine said. “He always made you feel like you were along for the ride on the journey. His laughter was the best. When he laughed he did so with his whole being. I have an image of the laughing Jesus, and he reminded me of that when he would laugh.”

He loved to cook and frequently treated others to dishes inspired by his missionary work in Latin America. He was an accomplished woodworker and enjoyed making gifts which are cherished by those who received them. He touched the lives of countless people and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

His Funeral Mass was celebrated Dec. 6 at Immaculate Conception Church. He was buried in the tomb for archdiocesan priests at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3 in New Orleans.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Father Jeanfreau’s name to the Pontifical Mission Societies, UNO Newman Center, 2000 Lakeshore Dr., New Orleans, LA 70148.

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