Joseph Alibey Aubert, Jr., died Monday at the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve after a lengthy illness. He was 85. AJ (as he was known to his family), or Joe (as he was known to his friends), was born in 1927 to Joseph Alibey Aubert, Sr., and Marie Antoinette Schexnayder. Delivered prematurely, he was said to be the smallest baby to have survived up to that time at Charity Hospital in New Orleans. The youngest of twelve children, his older sisters carried their tiny brother around in a shoebox, and that was only the beginning of their many years of doting on him. He grew up in St. John Parish and graduated from Leon Godchaux High School in Reserve. He loved to sing and dance, and as a teenager won many local talent contests as a Big Band singer. AJ was proud to have served in the U.S. Navy during both World War II and the Korean War. He told everyone who would listen that he served for exactly 9 years, 11 months, and 15 days. Navy travel gave him to opportunity to literally sing and dance around the world. One of the highlights of his life was singing a tune with his favorite star, Kathryn Grayson, during a USO show at the Hollywood Bowl. He truly loved the Navy, but after he got married he realized that he loved his family more, so he left the service shortly after his first daughter was born. AJ worked most of his adult life for Exxon, retiring in 1992 after 34 years of dedicated service. His first assignment at Exxon was working at the "training station" on Florida Boulevard. His last was with Exxon Shipping, which gave him joy of being aboard ship again, if only for short jaunts on the Mississippi River. AJ was a faithful Christian and a member of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge, where he served as usher, junior warden, choir member, and cantor. Until his final years, he continued to sing and dance every chance he got. Valued as a coworker, friend, and neighbor, he was well-liked by all, due largely to his enthusiastic good humor. His kind, generous, and loving spirit was an example to many. AJ is survived by Virginia, the wife to whom he was devoted for 59 years. He is also survived by sister Rose Mae Aubert Borne; daughters Kathy Keller, Kim Aubert, and Keri Aubert; son-in-law Danny Keller and daughter-in-law Jakki Flanagan; granddaughters Carly Shirk, Katie Keller, and Morgan Flanagan; great-grandsons Nicholas and Zachary Shirk; and Chihuahua Tiny. There will be a private memorial service on a date to be announced. Remembrances may be sent to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105; www.stjude.org) or the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank (P.O. Box 2996, Baton Rouge, LA 70821; www.brfoodbank.org).
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6 Entries
I want to convey my condolences to the family. I am so sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort be with you.
September 27, 2013
I am so sorry to hear about the passing of Mr. AJ. Mrs. Ginny you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Dawn Tamplain
September 25, 2013
My condolences. Joseph is in God's memory. God will give you the strength needed at this difficult time.
2 Peter 5:6 and 7
Donner Fontenot
September 25, 2013
Thinking about you and your family. Mr. Joe was a great man and (both of you) made a great impression on our lives growing up. He will be missed.
Jennifer Reeves
September 25, 2013
Dear Keri and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you at this time. My grandfather is also at the Veterans Home in Reserve. Alibey made full circle, and after reading his obituary, it reminds me of an old saying along River Road in French "la oú ton nombril est enterré, la tu va retourner" --- this literally means "where your navel is buried you will return". Meaning your dad could have lived all over the world in the military and moved away from St. John Parish, but it was in St. John that he was "from" -- you can not change where you are "from" -- that stays with you for life. But the old Creole/Cajun saying implied you'd always end up back where you started. For Alibey this was true.
God bless you all,
Jay Schexnaydre
September 24, 2013
My sympathies and prayers to Aunt Ginny and family.
Audrey Millet
September 24, 2013
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