The Life of James Joseph Jardell
Santa Clara, CAJames Joseph Jardell was born in Lake Charles, LA on January 16, 1942 and died at his home in Santa Clara, CA at the age of 66. Mr. Jardell lived most of his life in Lafayette. The son of Mabel Regan and Roy Alvin Jardell, he graduated from Cathedral Carmel High School in 1959. He also attended the Southwest Louisiana Institute, now University of Louisiana, in Lafayette. He was an active member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity on campus.
As a young man, Jimmy was very active in the community. He was a Boy Scout Leader, Young Men''s Business Club (past president), Our Lady of Fatima School PTA, Knights of Columbus, and helped to build the SLYSI youth baseball park. Jimmy served as Scout Master for Troop 156 at Fatima. He was also a musician, playing the saxophone, where he placed first in the state competition.
A long time leader in the air conditioning business, Jimmy began his career after college in sheet metal fabrication with Southern Sheet Metal. He then started two of his own contracting companies in Lafayette, J & B Sheet Metal and Polar Air Systems. Jimmy transitioned from private to corporate business in the late 80''s with the Union Carbide Taft Plant, Flour Daniel (ARCO Alaska Project at the Port of Iberia and the Palo Verdi Power plant in Arizona), and Engineered Air System (CA).
Jimmy went on to follow his passion for teaching with the WyoTech (formerly Sequoia) Institute in Fremont, CA. As a department chair for the HVAC program, Jimmy was a dedicated teacher and administrator who cared deeply about each of his students. He loved the opportunity to see young people become successful in the industry and make a better life for themselves and their families.Jimmy enjoyed life to its fullest. He was an excellent Cajun chef who enjoyed sharing his Louisiana heritage with California friends. He was an avid angler and boater.
He loved water activities and spent lots of time on his trawler in the San Francisco Bay area. He was busy with small and large construction projects with his wife and family leaving behind a beautiful garden lush with grapes, lemons, limes and flowers of many varieties.
Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, Mabel and Roy Jardell, his brother Roy, Jr. and his sister Patricia. He is survived by his loving wife Louise Duhe; sons Jeff and Brent Jardell, daughter Rebecca Szentgyorgyi and the mother of his children, Barbara Guilbeau Jardell; stepdaughters Elizabeth Duhegraham and Shelly Blandon; brother and sister in law Lionel and Lynda Jardell; along with nine wonderful grandchildren.
The family requests visiting hours be observed on Thursday, July 17 from 7 -9 p.m. at Martin and Castille Funeral Home and continue on Friday at 8 a.m. until time of service. A 10 a.m. mass will be held at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist Church in Lafayette, followed by interment at Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
A memorial celebration will be held at the Jardell''s home in Santa Clara, CA later in the summer.In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to either the Visual Arts Department of St. Thomas More, H.S. at 450 E. Farrel Rd., Lafayette, LA 70508 or the non-profit organization of your choice. Martin & Castille-Lafayette, 234-2311
