Gwendolyn Ann Lancon Burguieres

Gwendolyn "Gwen" Ann Lancon Burguieres passed away from this life at her home in Lake Charles on Wednesday, January 19, 2011.

Gwen was born September 25, 1950 in Lake Charles, and she grew up in Sulphur. She attended Our Lady's Catholic School in Sulphur, graduated from Westlake High School, and then received her B.A. in French education from Northeast State University in Monroe and her M.Ed. in education technology from McNeese State University. She loved people, and she was dedicated to her family, her students, and her church community.

Kind-hearted, passionate, and very generous, she cared most deeply for her family, often gathering them about her for holidays, celebrations, and simple weekend dinners or barbequescomfortable that they were her top priority. She also welcomed friends with her winning smile, relaxing with them to chat and reminisce. Her friends will remember her lively storytelling, her laughter, and her joy of life. Gwen, always the encourager, had an innate ability to make family, friends, and students feel special.

She taught in Calcasieu Parish for thirty years, a French teacher at LaGrange, Barbe, and Sam Houston High Schools, and F. K. White Middle School. In 1992, she was honored as the Louisiana Middle School Teacher of the Year and represented Calcasieu Parish Schools in the national event. In her later years, she served as a master mentor teacher at J. I. Watson Middle School, but most important to her always were her young students. When they would see her at the market or some area event, they would greet her warmly, and she would talk with them fondly about their families, their class memories, and their dreams. She touched many lives with her caring and compassionate nature, her sense of humor, and her love of French and the southwest Louisiana culture and people.

Gwen was professed into the Third Order Lay Carmelite in the St. Teresa Little Flower Community, serving as Director and Formation Director. She also served as Regional Formation Director for the Lay Carmelite Southwest Louisiana Region. Gwen served her church community for years in many other ways as prep teacher for religious instruction, Eucharistic lay minister of Holy Communion, Hourly Adorer of Perpetual Adoration, a participant to Lay Carmelite Convocations and annual Carmelite retreats, a member of the healing ministry, and a member of the Our Lady Queen of Heaven ACTS (Adoration, Community, Theology, and Service) Team and Catholic Daughters Court 1785. She also participated in pilgrimages to Medjugorje, the Holy Lands, and Aylesford, Chicago.

Mrs. Burguieres's other community affiliations have included her membership in Ad and Press Club with several Gridiron skits to her credit and two Mardi Gras Krewes, Krewe Des Amis and Krewe de La Famille. She also loved to travel, especially to Europe.

Those surviving to cherish her memory are her husband of nearly twenty-five years, Albert "Al" N. Burguieres; her son, Jules Tyler Lancon; mother, Irene Goins Lancon; father, Harry Lee Lancon, Sr. and wife Nadine; sister, Debbie L. Ford and husband Ray; brothers, H. Lee Lancon, Jr. and wife Ellen and Paul G. Lancon and wife Rachael; step-sons, Douglas D. Burguieres and wife Cindy and Steven R. Burguieres and wife Karen; nephews, Dr. Brian Ford and Eric Lancon; nieces, Kim Ford Lenhart and Emily Lancon; aunts, Marie Joubert and Jewel Brumley; and uncle Sherwood Goins; Gwen was also "Nana" to four grandchildren. She leaves behind, too, a host of dear friends who will miss her greatly and smile with fond memories.

Her life will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Saturday, January 22, 2011 at Our Lady Queen of Heaven. Monsignor James Gaddy will officiate. Burial will follow in Consolata Cemetery. Visitation will be at Johnson Funeral Home on Friday from 3:30 PM to 9:00 PM with a vigil and rosary at 6:00 PM. Visitation will continue on Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:40 AM.