Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco will lie in state on Thursday, August 22, in the State Capitol Rotunda as part of a three-day Celebration of Life for the former governor, who passed away on Sunday following a courageous battle with cancer.
Governor John Bel Edwards has ordered that flags be flown at half-staff until after the funeral Mass on Saturday, August 24.
Thursday’s remembrance will begin in Baton Rouge with an Interfaith Service at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, before an honor procession at the State Capitol, where she will be met with a military salute on the front steps and then lie in state for public visitation.
On Friday, there will be a public visitation and prayer service in Governor Blanco’s beloved Acadiana. On Saturday, a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Lafayette before a private burial.
SCHEDULE OF PUBLIC EVENTS
Thursday, August 22
10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Celebration of Life Interfaith Service
St. Joseph Cathedral
401 Main Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Note: This service will be broadcast by Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
12:30 p.m. – 12:45 p.m. Honor Procession
Louisiana State Capitol (Front Steps)
900 North Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Note: Access to the State Capitol steps and the Rotunda will be limited beginning at noon.
1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Gov. Blanco Lies in State
Louisiana State Capitol Rotunda
900 North Third Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Note: Access to the State Capitol steps and the Rotunda will be limited beginning at noon. Visitors should enter through the basement of the Capitol and will be guided through to the Rotunda. For security purposes, no bags larger than a small purse will be allowed.
Friday, August 23
12:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. Public Visitation
St. John the Evangelist Cathedral (Cathedral Hall)
914 St. John Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Saturday, August 24
8 a.m. – 10 a.m. Public Visitation
St. John the Evangelist Cathedral (Cathedral Hall)
914 St. John Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Reflections and Mass of Christian Burial
St. John the Evangelist Cathedral
515 Cathedral Street
Lafayette, LA 70501
Note: This service will be broadcast live by Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Memorials
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Governor Kathleen Blanco Public Policy Center, via the University of Louisiana – Lafayette Foundation, 705 East St. Mary Blvd, Lafayette, LA 70504 or online at Give.louisiana.edu.
Security
Access to the State Capitol steps and Rotunda will be limited on Thursday, August 22, beginning at noon. Visitors are encouraged to carpool and park in the lots along River Road, as parking in front of the Capitol will be limited. No large bags will be allowed at any of the memorial events.
Visitors who wish to pay their respects on Thursday in the Rotunda will enter through the basement of the State Capitol, where they will be guided through to the first floor of the Capitol. There will be no access from the front steps. Seating will not be available for those waiting in line.
Seating for the public may be limited at Thursday’s Interfaith Service and Saturday’s Mass of Christian Burial. There will be an overflow area at the Mass in Lafayette on Saturday where the service will be broadcast.
Gov. Edwards issued the following statement:
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has passed, after courageously battling cancer.
Serving as this state’s first female governor, Kathleen was a trailblazer and broke many barriers, leading the way for others to follow. She stands among the giants who have helped shaped Louisiana’s history. Kathleen loved this state and our people and was a shining example of what can be accomplished by hard work and determination.
She led Louisiana through one of our darkest hours, when hurricanes and the failure of the federal levee system devastated much of our state. I hope history will remember Governor Blanco as a tireless advocate for Louisiana, who fought fiercely for our state to rebuild following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
Louisianans owe a debt of gratitude to Governor Blanco, who always put the people of our state first, fighting to improve the quality of life for our families and children, championing better educational opportunities for all students at every level and building a stronger Louisiana. In 2004, she said: “I feel that call to lift up the less fortunate, the call to improve our communities and our state. It drives me to serve Louisiana as governor.”
Donna and I hope you will join your prayers to ours for her husband Raymond “Coach” and their family and friends. May God bless them all during this difficult time.”