Frances Gaudin

Frances Marie Rayburn Gaudin passed away peacefully at her home on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. She was born in Scioto County, Ohio on August 20, 1933 and was the second of eight children of Irvin and Stella Rayburn. Frances grew up in Ohio and graduated from Wheelersburg High School in 1952 as the class valedictorian. She attended the Bethesda Hospital School of Nursing in Cincinnati on a full scholarship, and upon graduation she worked at the Jewish Hospital and became head nurse. It was in Cincinnati that she met the love of her life, Louis Benedict Gaudin, and they were married in 1958. Their honeymoon was a long and lovely drive from Ohio to New Orleans, Louisiana and after a few years they moved to Baton Rouge. Frances worked at the Baton Rouge Woman’s Hospital and later worked with her husband to co-found G Squared Engineered Products. They worked together every day until their retirement. They were active in their parish St. Thomas More Catholic Church, enjoyed dining out for lunch and loved to spend time with family and friends. They also loved to travel, visiting many countries and completing over 30 cruises. They were blessed with a long and loving marriage of 58 years. Frances is survived by their five children and their spouses: Richard (Stephanie), Florence Brennan (Ed), L. Ben (Debra), Doug, Stephen (Anne Marie). She is also survived by her brother Paul Rayburn and sister Rose Ann Havens. Frances was proud of all of her grandchildren and their spouses, who lovingly called her GG; Joshua Simonds (Amber), Andrew Simonds (Sami), Jessica Bell (Kasey), Abigail Lechkun (Sean), Louis B. III “Trey”, Alexandra Friend (Jack), Ryan (Maddy), Austin, Kendall Holden ( Patrick), Joseph, Stephen (Natalie), Edward Brennan and Catherine Brennan. Frances is also survived by her great-grandchildren Conley, Kyelynn, Daphne and Elise. She is proceeded in death by her husband Louis; her siblings Mary, Lucille, John, Eugene, Carl, infant Rayburn; her daughter-in-law Ellen; and her grandchildren Morgan and Sean Michael. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to her wonderful caregivers Nyoki, Erica, Melissa and Deborah. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. Visitation will be Saturday, September 20 at Saint Thomas More Catholic Church, 11441 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70815 beginning at 9 AM until mass of Christian Burial beginning at 11 AM. The family invites you to join them for the Rosary, which will be prayed at 10 AM. Internment will follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Thomas More Church at the address above.