State funeral services were held today for former Senator Pilar Lujan.

After many years as an educator, she successfully ran for senator in the 17th Guam legislature and served six consecutive terms from 1983 to 1995. Delivering her eulogy was her former legislative colleague and former governor, Carl Gutierrez. He said a memory that stands out for him was when Lujan agreed to run for Democratic party chairman during his first term at Adelup in 1995.

"Factions and fractures and the never-sunshiners were hanging up their armory and ready to go after us which to me signaled challenges to the work my team and I were committed to doing," he said. "We knew we needed someone at the head of our party who would not splinter us further. We saw in pilar just that person. We approached her about it and she accepted the challenge without hesitation. In my opinion, she saved the party from a near-certain break."

Lujan was predeceased by her husband, former Sen. Frank G. Lujan and her daughter, former Guam Supreme Court Justice Monessa Lujan. She is survived by three other children, Dr. Davina Lujan, Galen Lujan and Rolenda L. Faasuamalie. She was 91.