In Memory of

Bishop

Fernand

Joseph

Cheri

III

Obituary for Bishop Fernand Joseph Cheri III

FERNAND CHERI OBITUARY
Bishop Fernand Joseph Cheri, III, OFM, age 71, was born on January 28, 1952 to the late Fernand J., Jr. and Gladys Marguerite Epps Cheri. He departed this earthly life on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at Chateau de Notre Dame in New Orleans. A native New Orleanian, Bishop Cheri was ordained to the priesthood in 1978 and was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of New Orleans in 2015. He graduated from St. Joseph Seminary in St. Benedict, earned a Master of Divinity degree at Notre Dame Seminary and a master of theology degree at Xavier University's Institute for Black Catholic Studies. After his ordination, he served at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Marrero and at four New Orleans churches, St. Peter Claver, St. Francis de Sales, St. Theresa Child of Jesus and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Churches. In 1996, he became a Franciscan priest because, as he stated to the Clarion Herald, he liked the idea of working with society's outcasts, such as prison inmates and homeless people. Bishop Cheri is survived by his siblings, Richard, Lorena and Anicia Cheri, all of New Orleans, LA, Kevin Cheri of Harrison, AK, Brigid C. Martin of Peachtree City, GA and Marvell C. Baudy of Gonzales, LA. A Mass of Christian burial honoring the life and legacy of the late Bishop Fernand J. Cheri, III will be held at St. Louis Cathedral, 615 Pere Antoine Alley, New Orleans, LA 70116 on Saturday, April 1, 2023 at 11 am. Interment will take place in St. Louis Cathedral following the Mass. Visitation 9 am in the church. Solemn Vespers will take place at Notre Dame Seminary, 2901 S. Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 5 pm, followed by a visitation from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Due to COVID variants, face masks and social distancing encouraged. Please sign online guestbook at www.charbonnetfuneralhome.com. Charbonnet Labat Glapion, Directors (504) 581-4411.

Published by The Times-Picayune on Mar. 29, 2023.