Lucienne Guillemin

Lucienne Guillemin
February 21, 1921 - March 16, 2021
LA JOLLA
Lucienne Jeanne Augustine (née Billard) Guillemin passed away in her home in La Jolla on March 16, 2021 at the age of 100. She was born in Paris, France to Charles Billard and Hélène Faguin. She moved to La Jolla in 1970 with her husband, Dr. Roger Guillemin and their six children.

Lucienne's youth was shaped by the early death of her mother, the absence of her father and World War II. She was raised by her maternal grandmother, and was a long-standing member of the Scouts et Guides de France. After receiving her diploma from secretarial school before the outbreak of the war, she spent the war years working for an architectural firm. Outraged by the persecution of Jews during the German occupation of France, she took risks by sheltering Jewish families in her Lyon apartment. After the war, she emigrated to Canada, was awarded her nursing diploma from the Université de Montréal and worked in Montréal's Hôpital Notre-Dame where she met Roger, her patient and future husband. She had an affinity for and deep love of music and excelled at playing the piano and harpsichord. Later in life, she composed music, studied Chinese and Spanish, and became an accomplished pastel artist. An avid reader all her life, she was an inspiration to her loving children, grandchildren and great grandson. She imparted to them her appreciation of art and music, learning languages, gardening, living with nature, and being kind to animals. Her adventurous spirit took her to many countries in addition to her yearly pilgrimages to her beloved France. She enjoyed horseback riding, camping, and stargazing in the high desert of New Mexico. Lucienne's personal grace and elegance extended to the glorious bouquets of fresh flowers with which she adorned her homes in La Jolla, New Mexico and France. Throughout his scientific career, Roger relied upon her stable, positive influence, and unwavering support. She was devoted to her family and raised her children in a loving household. She will always be in our hearts.

Lucienne is survived by her husband of 69 years, Roger Guillemin; her half sister, Michèle Billard Marcoux and her husband, Pierre and their daughter, Marie-France; her half sister, Danielle Billard Blanco and her husband, Angel and their daughters, Valérie and Magali; her half brother, Charles Emile Billard and his son, Charles Eric; her daughter, Chantal and her husband, Guy Birenbaum; her daughter, Claire; her daughter, Hélène Guillemin Weiss and her husband, Jean-François Weiss and their son, Daniel and his wife, Hanne and their son, Aksel; her daughter, Elisabeth and her husband, Hugh Holborn; her daughter, Cece Chambless and her daughter, Dylan Chambless-Specht and her husband, Justin Specht; her son, François and his wife, Irene and their sons, Omar and Sebastien. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Augustine and François Faguin, by her mother and father, by her sister, Charlotte, and by her grandson, Kierin, son of François and Irene.