Christopher Candella

Opelousas - Our Hearts are broken! We have lost our beautiful baby boy. Of course Shawn would blush to hear me speak publicly of him as baby. But privately, he would just melt when we told him he was our beautiful baby boy. And although his friends, fellow workers and clients would not call him that, as they all knew him to be man among men, they all knew there was something very special about Shawn. He had a special way with all children. Their eyes would light up when first they saw him. He had a way of making little children think they were the most special person in the whole world. His care and affection he showed to friends, his family and strangers alike was felt by everyone as being very genuine. He would give the shirt off his back, money out his wallet and lend an eternal ear to those in need. All the while he never expected anything in return. Dedicated to his friends and clients, lovingly committed to his family and open to all strangers, he was such a pleasure to have him with us. They say losing a child is a parent's worst nightmare. The truth is the pain of losing a child is so indescribably painful; no words ever written can do it justice. It is a dark hole that can only be filled by the Light of our Loving Savior. There is no timeline, no directions as to how we can make this pain leave us quicker. As everything about our Creator, this too is a mystery. But we do have the power to help those so wounded by losing a loved one, soften the pain and the grief. And that is to show compassion, love and understanding to all who suffer. And we can believe, really believe that God will take our pain away in His time and by the Grace of His Heavenly Love. So let us cry and let us grieve for the loss of our beautiful baby boy and know that one day we will be delivered from our pain. Then we can pray for the day when we are joined with Shawn as we walk together in The Crystal Stream of God's Loving Grace.

Funeral services for Lt. Reserve Commander Christopher Shawn Candella will be held at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 15, 2015, at the First Baptist Church of Opelousas where Pastor Perry Hubbs will conduct the services. Interment will follow at the Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery.

Christopher Shawn Candella, age 25, who was a native of Opelousas, LA and a resident of Carencro, LA died on Thursday, December 10, 2015 at Ochsner Health System in New Orleans, LA.

Shawn was proud and passionate as a volunteer reserve Officer with the Sunset Police Department. He and his father Mike also raised and worked with K-9 Search and Recovery dogs. When Shawn wasn't on patrol, he worked with his father at Mike Candella State Farm. Shawn played piano and had a great love for music and photography. He will be deeply missed by his family, friends and his State Farm family.

Survivors include his father, Charles Michael Candella of Carencro, LA; his mother, Charlene Fabacher Comeaux of New Iberia, LA; brothers, Philip Jason Candella of New Iberia, LA, Brett Steven Boudreaux of Lafayette, LA, Larry Stephens and wife Tanya Guillory Stephens of Carencro, LA and Tyler Lopez of New Iberia, LA; sisters Kimberly Candella Judice and husband Brett of Lafayette, LA and Kelli Rae Lopez of New Iberia; maternal grandparents, Peter Ray and Melba Fabacher; paternal grandfather, Philip Joseph Candella; best friend Lane Guidry; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandmother, Anna Marie Mazzola Candella.

Pallbearers will be Heath Treadway, Jason Candella, Brett Boudreaux, Larry Stephens, Lance Billiodeau and Matt Beard. Honorary pallbearers will be Peter Guidry, Ambrose Smith and Lane Guidry.

Visiting will be held at LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas beginning on Monday, December 14, 2015, from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with a celebration of life service at 7:00 p.m. Visiting will resume at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday until service time at noon.

In lieu of flowers donation can be made in Shawn's name to Special K-9 Search and Recovery.org, 354 Meadowview Court, Montgomery, TX, 77316.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the cardiac medicine ICU and their team of doctors and nurses and on the 11th floor at Ochsner Health System. I also want to acknowledge Opelousas General Health System and Dr. Jose Santiago, Dr. Paul Miller, Dr. Eric Amy, Dr. Lee Ellender and Dr. John Fontenot and the ICU nurses at Opelousas General Health System.

Family and friends are invited to sign the online guestbook and view the video memorial at www.lafondardoin.com.

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home, 2845 S. Union St, Opelousas, LA, 70570, (337)942-2638, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Visitation

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas
2845 South Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Monday, December 14, 2015
12:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas
2845 South Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
8:00 until time of service

Service

Funeral Service

First Baptist Church of Opelousas
3835 I-49 South Service Road
Opelousas, LA  70570
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
12:00 p.m.

Celebration of Life

LaFond-Ardoin Funeral Home Chapel
2845 South Union Street
Opelousas, LA  70570
Monday, December 14, 2015
7:00 p.m.

Cemetery

Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery
4833 Hwy. 182 South
Opelousas, LA  70570

Memorial Contributions

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Special K-9 Search and Recovery.org
Montgomery, TX  77316