Kris Wartelle

kwartelle@theadvertiser.com

Beth Martha Hansen Guilbeaux, a well-known music advocate in the Lafayette community, died recently. She was 67.

A celebration of life for Guilbeaux will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Le Pavillon in Parc Lafayette with a memorial service at 3 p.m.

Guilbeaux was born in Minneapolis but resided in Lafayette most of her life. She graduated from Lafayette High School in 1967 and received a bachelor of arts in music performance from the University of Louisiana in 1971.

Guilbeaux was well known for her volunteer work and her commitment to the arts and music.

She was a member of Leadership Lafayette and served as a board member, board president and interim executive director of the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra. She performed regularly with the Lafayette Concert Band and Acadian Wind Symphony as principal flutist.

Guilbeaux also served as president of the Friends of Music Acadiana, where she helped raise thousands of dollars for deserving music students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Tish Johnson and Guilbeaux were friends for more than 12 years. Both worked together on the Acadiana Symphony Orchestra board.

Johnson said music was so much a part of Guilbeaux that her husband, Gerald, has created a Scholarship to UL School of Music in her name.

“Music was a cohesive part of their family,” Johnson said. “Everybody played an instrument. We did so many things together that Don referred to Beth as his other wife and Gerald called me his other wife. I have no other family, so Beth was like a sister to me. The community has lost a wonderful person.”

Friends and family said they will miss her positive attitude and her joy of life.

The Daily Advertiser's Herman Fuselier worked with Beth on many a music event.

“With Beth gone, one of the keys on Lafayette’s piano is missing. Beth lived her commitment to music, whether she was selling tickets for the symphony or out with Gerald enjoying Festival International," Fuselier said. “Her work is done. But I’d love to run into her and Gerald at festival one more time.”

Guilbeaux was also active in many social organizations including the Krewe of Victoria and Sans Souci,

She was a strong advocate for women’s rights throughout her adult life and relished the opportunity to be able to vote early for the first woman president of the United States.

She is survived by her husband Gerald; daughters Amy O’Quain, Lynn Bone of Austin, Texas, and Chrissy Thompson; seven grandchildren; sisters Laurel Lewellen and Julie Hansen Bush; brother Mark Hansen; and five nieces, five nephews, six great-nieces, and nine great-nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the Beth Hansen Guilbeaux Flute Scholarship has been established for those wishing to contribute. Should friends desire, contributions may be sent the UL Lafayette Foundation, c/o the Beth Hansen Guilbeaux Flute Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504.