Paul J. Guilbeau

1936 - 2015

Paul J. Guilbeau

CARENCRO - Funeral services will be held Friday, February 6, 2015 at a 2:00 p.m. a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial in St. Peter Roman Catholic Church in Carencro for Paul J. Guilbeau, age 78, who passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2015 at his residence in Carencro.

Interment will be in St. Peter Catholic Cemetery in Carencro. Rev. Greg Cormier and Rev. Arthur Warren will officiate at the services. Readers will be Seth Kelley and Jennifer Brasseaux Guilbeau. Giftbearers will be Madison Bourgeois and Connor Guilbeau.

Musical selections will be provided by Tony Broussard, accompanied by Terry Huval on the organ. The songs will be Arise, Come to Your God, How Great Thou Art, The Lord is my Shepherd, Hail Mary, Onward Christian Soldiers, Precious Lord and Decolores.

Paul Guilbeau was born in rural Lafayette Parish in an area known as Beau Bassin, on the banks of the Vermillion River, best known as Wilderness Trail. His education began at Carencro Elementary and St. Anne's Convent where he was taught by the Carmelite nuns. He graduated from Carencro High School in 1954.

Mr. Guilbeau attended SLI (now ULL) where he studied Pre-Pharmacy. He continued his education at Northeast Louisiana State College (now ULM) School of Pharmacy in Monroe where he graduated in 1960. While in college, he met Donna Lou Holdeman. As he put it, "She changed my life and she was the love of my life." Donna also graduated from the same college in home economics and education.

They were married by Father Michael O'Hanna on September 3, 1960 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Monroe. After they were married, they moved to Crowley, where he began his career as a pharmacist. In 1964, he became a partner with Dr. James Clause when they brought the pharmacy and medical practice to Carencro. Guilbeau's Pharmacy continues to operate today, under the direction of his daughter, Sheri.

Paul and Donna Guilbeau chose to adopt four children and raise them in the Catholic Church.

In the 1980's, Paul became paralyzed due to an old sports injury. He was told he would never walk again. He spent years praying and aggressively pursuing rehabilitation, to the point where he became able to walk again and continued to run his pharmacy. He was very active in the Cursillo and Retreat movement in the Catholic Church and he and his wife, Donna, had the opportunity to visit many religious shrines. Paul was an active member of the Bonne Mort Society.

Survivors include his wife of fifty-four years, Donna Lou Holdeman Guilbeau; his daughters, Sheri Guilbeau Kelley and Jennifer Guilbeau Bourgeois and her companion, Herbie Thevis; his sons, John Fidelis Guilbeau and his wife, Stacey Kelley Guilbeau, and Timothy Paul Guilbeau and his wife, Jennifer Brasseaux Guilbeau. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Lance, Seth and Cole Kelley, Rusty and Daniel Guilbeau, Logan and Connor Guilbeau, and Joshua, Jacob and Madison Bourgeois.

He was preceded in death by his father Percy "Topin" Guilbeau and his mother, the former, Horta Latiolais; and one granddaughter, Morgan Elaine Kelley.

A rosary will be prayed at 7:00 p.m. Thursday in the funeral home.

The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Thursday and will continue from 8:00 a.m. until service time on Friday.

Pallbearers will be Lance Kelley, Rusty Guilbeau, Jacob Bourgeois, Joshua Bourgeois, Daniel Guilbeau, Cole Kelley, Logan Guilbeau and Tim Guilbeau.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to his caregivers: Nina Dixon, Troy Hill and Ida Narcisse.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.melanconfuneralhome.net.

Melancon Funeral Home of Carencro, 4615 North University Avenue, (337) 896-6366, is in charge of arrangements.