Willis M. Guilbeau

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, January 13, 2025 at 10:30 am at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Grand Coteau for Willis M. Guilbeau, 89, who passed away January 9, 2025. Reverend Monsignor Keith DeRouen, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Angels in Opelousas will be the Celebrant of the funeral Mass and will conduct the funeral services. Denise Olivier and Kristina Guilbeau will be the lectors for the funeral Mass. Gift bearers will be Emma Guilbeau and Alex Kardorff. Karen Broussard, organist and vocalist, will perform, "Amazing Grace", "To You, O Lord I Lift My Soul", "Ave Maria", "Taste and See", and "On Eagle's Wings". Interment will follow the Mass in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. 

Survivors include his three children, Tim (Dixie) Guilbeau of Sunset, Shelly (Brian) Schexnayder of Jeanerette, and Wendy Guilbeau of Spring, TX; six grandchildren, Megan Sonnier, Taryn Fabacher, Brandon Guilbeau, Britni Taylor, Jason Kardorff, and Alex Kardorff; eleven great-grandchildren, Jesse Sonnier, Lucus Sonnier, Lilly Sonnier, Lexie Sonnier, Jules Sonnier, Emma Guilbeau, Austin Guilbeau, Mason Taylor, Mila Taylor, Monroe Taylor, and Nixon Fabacher.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Olita and Jules Guilbeau; first wife, Alice M. Guilbeau; second wife, Weellan L. Guilbeau; two daughters, Denise Guilbeau and Sonya Guilbeau; three grandchildren, Sean Martin Kardorff, Sonya Marie Kardorff and Mercer Taylor; and two siblings, Betty Guilbeau and Stanley Guilbeau.

Willis was a native of Lafayette and resident of Sunset for the past 37 years. He was a member of Army National Guard, and retired from the Lafayette Fire Department as the Assistant Fire Chief. 

Pallbearers will be Tim Guilbeau, Brandon Guilbeau, Matt Taylor, Brian Schexnayder, Michael Sonnier, and James Fabacher. Honorary pallbearers include Roland Robin and Jude Robin.

The family requests that visitation be held at Walters Funeral Home on Sunday, January 12, 2025 from 2:00 - 6:00 pm, and resume Monday morning at 8:00 am - 10:00 am. A rosary will be led by Sr. Doris Roy, S.E.C. at 4:00 pm Sunday afternoon at Walters Funeral Home.

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