Marguerite Burrus

Leon’s wife Marguerite, called Guigui, had four sons. The eldest, Charles Burrus, would take over management of the business.

Marguerite was a piano virtuosa and champion horsewoman who participated in numerous local charitable causes such as training local youth. Some of her most notable contributions were her efforts to save nearly 5000 Jewish children during World War II. Along with Odile Burrus, named Knight of the Legion of Honor in 1948, she organized their passage over the Swiss border via the gateway to France on the family property of Domaine de Guilé, bordering France. This property has housed the Fondation Guilé since its creation. With the help of the Red Cross, the children were cared for, clothed, and then sent to welcome centers across Switzerland.