James Durio

JAMES EARL DURIO, 76, April 10, 1931-November 20, 2007, or Jimmie as he was affectionately known by friends and family, passed on peacefully to his eternal life, surrounded by his loving friends and family, at home in his hometown of Opelousas Louisiana, on Tuesday, the 20th of November, 2007 at 1:40 a.m.

Arrangements have been delegated to Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas. A wake will be conducted at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church on Wednesday, November 21, 2007 beginning at 10:00 a.m., with the Rosary led by Deacons Jerome Collins, Sammy Diesi and Timothy Maragos at 11:30 a.m.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 21, 2007, conducted by Father Angelo Cremaldi and Monsignor Louis Melancon, followed by committal at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Washington, Louisiana.

Jimmie was preceded in passing by his mother and father, Eugenie Rivoire and Kenneth George Durio, Sr., his younger brother Fred, his beloved wife of 51 years, Catherine Richard Tat Durio, and a son, Jeffery David Durio. He is survived by his elder brother, Kenneth George Neka Durio, Jr., seven 7 children and 19 grandchildren; Gregory, and his wife, Nan Howard, and their children, Jennifer and Jamie, all of Marietta Georgia; Steven Buzz, and his wife, Renee Abadie, and their children, Blaise, Lyle, and Alex; Richard, of Lafayette, La., and his children, Lauren and Maggie, and their mother Karen Simon; John, and his children, Terra and Jonas Elliot, and their mother, Dorothy Pellessier; Catherine, and her husband, Donald Buzz Chachere, Jr., and their children, Celeste, Camille, Caroline and Colleen; Denise, and her husband, Jerry Carroll, and their children, Benjamin, Sarah and Annie; Joseph, of Baton Rouge, La., and his children, Laura, Miles and Emily, and their mother, Stephanie Cook. He is also survived by his friend, Patsie Sceroler, of Denham Springs, La.
BR clearall
Jimmie was a graduate of Opelousas High School, class of 1948, and attended LSU. He was a lifelong professional florist and owner of Durios Flower Shop and Jim Durio Florist, Inc. of Opelousas, Louisiana. He was a longtime member, Director, and President of the Louisiana State Florists Association. He was founder, first President and Chairman of the Board for many years of Louisiana Wholesale Florists, Inc. in Lafayette and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He served as District Representative, Director, President, and Chairman of the Board of Florists Transworld Delivery FTD, and as a Director and President of Interflora. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of American Florists, the Southeastern Florists Association and several other professional organizations.

In the local community, Jimmie was a member of the Opelousas Rotary Club, of which he was 1986-87 President. He was a member of St Landry Parish Church and a Third Degree Knight of Columbus and Grand Knight of its Knights of Columbus Council. In 1967, he served as a founding Trustee of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, where he also served as a Chairman of the Parish Council. He was a member of the School Board of the Academy of the Immaculate Conception now Opelousas Catholic School, where all of his eight children and several grandchildren attended. He was a lifelong supporter of the Jesuit community at St Charles College and Our Lady of the Oaks retreat house, and the Academy of the Sacred Heart at Grand Coteau, La. In 1970, he was decorated for his service to the Church by Pope Paul the VI.

As a young man Jimmie enjoyed Scouting, including a 1946 trip to Philmont National Scout Ranch near Cimarron, New Mexico, as well as fishing and hunting. He was an Eagle Scout and Scoutmaster of Troop 30, and Received the Bronze Pelican, Knight of St George, and Silver Beaver awards of the Boy Scouts of America, Evangeline Area Council. He served several terms as District Chairman for the Parishes of St Landry and Evangeline, and was a leader in the rejuvenation of Camp Thistlethwaite. In 2000, he was selected as the Evangeline Area Councils St. Landry and Evangeline Parish Distinguished Citizen.

Later he became an avid traveler, enjoying many trips to Canada, Europe and the Middle East, the Pacific, Japan, China and Taiwan, and Central and South America, often bringing along family, and visiting friends and fellow florists across the United States and the world. His lifelong enjoyment was rising early to meet and spend time with friends at the regular meeting place that his shop on the old Sunset highway had become.
P Thanks to Drs J. Y. Bordelon, Paul Miller, Physicians Assistant Angie Goin, Hospice R.N. Raquel Landry, and Mrs. Helen Johnson for years of tender loving care before and during Jim