CONTACT:
Karen Turni Bazile, Executive Assistant to the President
St. Bernard Parish
504-278-4280 or 504-874-0980
FULL FIRE
DEPARTMENT HONOR GUARD AND PROCESSION FOR
ST. BERNARD PARISH FIRE DISTRICT CHIEF JAMES J. GONZALES SR.
Procession will start Wednesday about 1:15 p.m.
James J. Gonzales Sr., a 46-year-old District
Chief and 28-year veteran of the St. Bernard Parish Fire
Department, entered into his eternal rest on Thursday, May 29.
District Chief Gonzales was a dedicated firefighter and a giving
friend, Fire Chief Thomas Stone said. He had passed away doing
what he loved, being with his brother firefighters after a long
night of handling emergency responses, most of which were after
midnight. He was celebrating the retirement of a fellow
firefighter when he suddenly collapsed of a massive heart
attack.
During Hurricane Katrina, District Chief Gonzales was in charge
of one of the three evacuation task forces and participated in
several search and rescue efforts that saved many lives. He will
be a large asset that will be hard to replace, Stone said.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 3, from 6 to 10 p.m. and
Wednesday, June 4, from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. with Mass to
follow at St. Bernard Memorial Funeral Home at 701 W. Virtue St.
in Chalmette.
A Full Fire Department Honor Guard and Procession will follow
the service that will include the St. Bernard Parish Fire
Department as well as other fire departments in the metropolitan
area.
The procession will start at West Virtue to Paris Road, where it
will head south, turn west on West Judge Perez Drive. It will
travel to Dr. Meraux Boulevard, make a U-turn, head east on West
Judge Perez Drive to the 2500 block of East Judge Drive. Some of
members of the St. Bernard Fire Department will march behind the
procession for four blocks passing the last duty station of
District Chief Gonzales at Jacob Drive. The procession will make
a U-turn and head west on East Judge Perez Drive to Paris Road
and head north to East Virtue.
