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The original
cemetery used by the Acadian exiles was located at and immediately
adjacent to the present church. When construction of the present
church was begun in 1875, the present cemetery had already been in use
for some time. Numerous remains were moved to the cemetery when the
site of the church was being excavated and prepared for construction.
When sewer lines were being laid parallel to St. Vincent Street next
to the church in 1932, human bones were uncovered several times.
Because of its concurrent history with the Church parish, Ascension
Catholic Cemetery is the largest and among the oldest Catholic
cemeteries in the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Dr. Francois Marie Prevost,
a native of Pont de Ce in southern France, and Parisian medical school
graduate, established himself in Donaldsonville where he practiced
medicine for almost 50 years. Here he performed the second successful
Caesarian Section in this country. Dr. Prevost is buried in the
cemetery. Also here is the tomb of the original owners of Tezcuco
Plantation, the Bringier family, and wherein is buried distinguished
statesman Duncan Kenner, founder of the city of Kenner, Louisiana.
Also notable by its size and prominence is the Landry tomb, the final
resting-place of descendants of the original L’Andry Acadian exile
land grant recipients. Both Confederate and Union Army soldiers
are buried here, inasmuch as the junction of the Mississippi River and
then navigable Bayou Lafourche at Donaldsonville with its Fort Butler
was a strategic army outpost during the Civil War.
Among recent major mprovements the cemetery saw in 2002 was the replacement of the old
chain link fencing with a new permanent brick and wrought iron fence
around the entire street-side perimeter of the cemetery.
FUNERALS/CHURCH CEMETERY:
Families should contract the parish cemetery office before making
final arrangements with the Funeral Home. Contact Mr. Anthony
Marcello between 8:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, for
cemetery business. Click on the following links for the forms you
need.
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