Barbara B. Hansen

A private memorial service will be held at a later date for Barbara B. Hansen, 88, who died from a brief illness at Lafayette General Medical Center on January 22, 2011. Barbara was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on March 14, 1922 and enjoyed playing piano and percussion in the West High School Band and the Gould Banjo Band. After marrying Donald George Hansen in 1943, she moved to Island Park, Minnesota, where all five of her children were born. In 1956, the Hansen family moved to Miami, Florida and she became very involved in promoting music lessons and band activities for her children. Barbara and her family moved to Lafayette, Louisiana in 1963 where she continued to support the musical activities of her children, who were students at Lafayette High School, Acadiana High School and Alleman Middle School. She was an active piano accompanist for all of her children, served as President of the Lafayette High School Band Parents' Club and was a member of the Acadiana High School Band Parents' Club. Barbara performed with the U.S.L. Symphony Orchestra in many musicals and operas and was a member and Patroness of Sigma Alpha Iota Music Fraternity for Women. Barbara was an active member of the League of Women Voters and was grateful for their guidance and support as she represented herself in a five-year legal battle with the State of Louisiana and the I.R.S. to overturn the Louisiana 'Head and Master' provision. She testified before the Louisiana Legislature in opposition to the provision and was ultimately successful as an 'innocent spouse' in a landmark ruling at the United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Her case was featured in Good Housekeeping Magazine in the spring of 1979 and is documented in the Edith Garland Dupre' Library and Special Archives at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Following her retirement from South Central Bell, Barbara, at the age of 68 joined the Peace Corps and spent three years in Matequesquintla, Guatemala, instructing school girls in handicraft skills. Following her Peace Corps service, she served as a Board Member with the Affiliated Blind of Lafayette and worked as a teacher in the adult reading program with V.I.T.A. (Volunteer Instructors Teaching Adults). Barbara was a member of the Lafayette Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and has donated her body to the Bureau of Anatomical Services (LSU) in New Orleans. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Lorin and Melba Bros, her son, Dana Frederick Hansen and her husband, Donald George Hansen. She is survived by her brother, Fred Bros and his wife Carol, of Dallas, Texas, daughters Laurel Hansen Lewellen and her husband Keith, of Everett, Washington, Beth Hansen Guilbeaux and her husband Gerald, of Lafayette, Julie Hansen Bush and her husband Robbie, of Lafayette and son, Mark Hansen and his wife RoseMary, of San Antonio, Texas. She is also survived by her grandchildren Kirsten Cormier Holmes, Erin Cormier Lowe, Alison Cormier Glass, Amy Guilbeaux O'Quain, Lynn Guilbeaux Bone, Chrissy Guilbeaux Thompson, Brian Bush, Emily Bush, Shawn Hansen, Jamie Hansen and Jennifer Hansen Stone and great-grandchildren Reece Holmes, Garrett, Aidan, Sean and Joy Lowe, Haley and Ashleigh Glass, Carly and Cameryn O'Quain, Lucien Bone, Addison Thompson, Casidy Von Lienen, Isabella Hansen, Braley Hansen and Dylan and Carter Stone. Contributions in Barbara's name may be made to V.I.T.A., 905 Jefferson Street, #404, Lafayette, Louisiana 70501 or to Affiliated Blind of Louisiana, 409 W. St. Mary, Lafayette, La. 70506. Condolences may be sent to the Hansen family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Barbara B. Hansen

March 14, 1922 - January 22, 2011