Lucienne Jeanne Augustine Guillemin

Lucienne (née Billard) Guillemin, passed away in her home on March 16, 2021.  Born in Paris, France, she made La Jolla her home since 1970.  She was raised by her maternal grandmother and was a long-standing member of the Scouts et Guides de France.  She obtained her diploma from secretarial school before the outbreak of the World War II, and spent the war years working for an architectural firm. During the German occupation of France, she took risks by sheltering Jewish families in her Lyon apartment.  She emigrated to Montréal, Canada, obtained her nursing diploma from the Université de Montréal, and worked in Hôpital Notre-Dame where she met Roger Guillemin, her patient and future husband.  She loved music and excelled at playing keyboard instruments. Later in life, she composed music, studied Chinese and Spanish, and became an accomplished pastel artist. She imparted to her loving children, grandchildren and great grandson her appreciation of art, music, languages, gardening, living with nature, and being kind to animals. She traveled worldwide and made yearly pilgrimages to her beloved France.  She enjoyed riding horses, camping and stargazing in the mountains of New Mexico.  In addition to raising six children in a loving household, Lucienne was a stable, unwavering support to Roger in his scientific career. She embodied grace, elegance, kindness and compassion. She will always be in our hearts.