James Thomas Guglielmo

1937 - 2018

James Thomas Guglielmo of Opelousas died Sunday January 21, 2018 at his home surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held on Thursday January 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church with a Eulogy to be delivered at 10:45 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. by Rev. Msgr. Keith J. DeRouen. Rite of Committal and internment will follow at Bellevue Memorial Park Cemetery. James Guglielmo was born in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1937. He was the son of Hilda Roussel Guglielmo and James Francis Guglielmo, Jr. He graduated from Lutcher High School. He attended Louisiana State University and graduated from Louisiana State University School of Law with a Juris Doctor degree in 1963. In law school, he was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award. James practiced law in Opelousas for over 55 years. He was a founding member of the law firm of Guglielmo, Lopez, Tuttle, Hunter and Jarrell. James was passionate about his work as an attorney. He was principled and fierce. He worked until the time of his death because he loved it. He had vast experience in trial work in both the Federal and State courts. He had a special interest in toxic tort and environmental litigation primarily relating to oil and gas properties. He also participated in several large construction litigation cases. Over the years he represented many of the major insurance companies, Fortune 500 companies, as well as small businesses. He was a member and past board member of the Louisiana Association of Defense Counsel and a longtime member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He was admitted to practice before all of the State and Federal District Courts in the State of Louisiana as well as the United States Court of Appeal for the Fifth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. James was a Parishioner of Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church and especially enjoyed the choir concerts. James was also an accomplished pianist. He was an avid and devoted Louisiana State University Tigers basketball and football fan. James is survived by his loving wife of thirty seven years, Mary Janet Neher Guglielmo, daughter Elizabeth Picard and her husband Tyron of Lafayette, a son James Thomas Guglielmo Jr. and his wife Regine of Oberwaldhausen, Germany, a daughter Marjorie Lacaillade and her husband Peter of Wellesley, Massachusetts, a stepson, MacAllynn Achee of Franklin, Tennessee, a stepdaughter, Laura Achee of Charlotte, North Carolina, and nine grandchildren, William Picard, John Picard, Anna Guglielmo, Samuel Guglielmo, Franka Guglielmo, Rose Lacaillade, Reid Lacaillade, MacAllynn Achee, and Caroline Achee. He is also survived by his brother Francis X. Gugliemo and his wife Barbara Denham Guglielmo of Baton Rouge, sister-in-law Dr. Nancy Neher of Baton Rouge, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hilda Roussel Guglielmo, and Joseph F. Guglielmo Jr., brother Alfred Roussel Guglielmo and his wife Sharon Earle Guglielmo, as well as his first wife Rosemary Gowan Guglielmo. Pallbearers will be James Thomas Guglielmo, Jr., Tyron Picard, John Picard, Peter Lacaillade, MacAllynn Achee, and Francis Guglielmo. Honorary Pallbearers will be the partners of the law firm of Guglielmo, Lopez,Tuttle, Hunter, and Jarrell and friend, Ray Clement. In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to consider a memorial donation to Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church Choir Fund or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Family and friends are invited to sign and view the online guestbook at www.lafondardoin.com. Lafond-Ardoin Funeral Home of Opelousas 2845 South Union Street, Opelousas, LA 70570 (337)-942-2638 has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.