Gloria Gordon Boelens

Gloria Gordon Boelens died on January 19, 2015 at a Lake Charles hospital after a brief illness. She was born in Baton Rouge, LA to Herbert Monteith and Anna Dezauche Gordon on November 15, 1924. She lived in Opelousas, LA most of her life until relocating to Lake Charles in 2005. Gloria attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now University of Louisiana - Lafayette) where she was a music major. Her talent on the piano and her love of music continued throughout her lifetime. She married Ensign John Havard Boelens, USN, on June 14, 1944. Theirs was love at first sight and they were married for 62 years until his death in 2007. While a Navy wife, Gloria lived in New London, CN, Vallejo, CA, Key West, FL, and Atlanta, GA. In 1954, when family business needs arose, she and her husband returned to Opelousas where they raised their family and were active in church and community. After her children were in school, Gloria began working for the St. Landry Parish School Board and was a long-time media coordinator and school secretary, particularly at South Street School where she was much beloved. She was principle organist at the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany and director of the Altar Guild there for many years. There will be a visitation at Johnson Funeral Home in Lake Charles on Thursday, January 22, from 3 - 6 PM. Family visitation will also be held on Friday, January 23 at 10 AM in Opelousas at the Church of the Epiphany followed by a memorial service at 11 AM. A brief reception at the Parish Hall will follow the interment. She is survived by her two daughters, Ann Boelens Abernethy of Birmingham, AL, and Penny Boelens Haxthausen and husband Louis of Lake Charles; one son, John William "Bill" Boelens of Baton Rouge; grandchildren Elizabeth Havard Haxthausen and fiancée Daniel Reardon of Washington, DC, Katherine Haxthausen Ponder and husband Brian of Summerville, SC, Benton Sterling Abernethy IV of Baton Rouge, and William Hopkins Haxthausen and wife Jacqueline of Baton Rouge. She is survived by her great-grandchildren, Ellie Haxthausen and Abbie and Jacob Ponder; and her extended family at Villa Maria. Gloria was preceded in death by her husband, John Havard Boelens. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Episcopal Church of the Epiphany Altar Guild, 1103 S. Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570, or to an organization of your choice.