James Murray Reynolds

James “Jim” Reynolds passed away peacefully on June 17th 2023, at the age of 75.

Jim was born in New Iberia on September 18, 1947, to Fred and Lillian Reynolds. Jim served his country as a corpsman in the United States Navy. Upon completing his military commitment, Jim attended Nicholls State University and obtained a nursing degree in 1973. While attending nursing school, Jim met Karen, a fellow nursing student, and they married in 1974. Jim obtained his advanced practiced nursing degree in anesthesia from Charity Hospital in New Orleans in 1976. After completing his education, Jim began working as a CRNA at Opelousas General Hospital and worked as a CRNA for over the next forty years before he retired. While Jim loved his career, his greatest love was his family. 

Jim will be remembered by his colleagues as being a skilled CRNA with an unparalleled work ethic and someone who always provided humor in the workplace; by his friends as loyal and dependable; by his family as someone who was always there for them and who taught them to be optimistic and live in the moment; and by his grandchildren as making the best Eggo waffles, always having money for snowballs at the baseball park, and overall, as a superhero. Jim will be remembered mostly for his sense of humor, and his deep commitment to his faith, which remained true even in the hour of his death. 

Jim is survived by his wife, Karen Reynolds; daughter, Nicole Reynolds Schwartzenburg; son-in-law, Corey Schwartzenburg; son, Jimmy Reynolds; daughter-in-law, Kristy Reynolds; son, Lance Reynolds; seven grandchildren, Avery Reynolds, Rory Reynolds, Emry Reynolds, Charlotte Reynolds, Isaac Reynolds, Pierce Schwartzenburg, and Porter Schwartzenburg; brother, John Pat Reynolds; sister-in-law, Lynn Reynolds, and sister, Delores Reynolds, all who loved him dearly. 

Jim is proceeded in death by his parents, Fred and Lillian Reynolds; his brother, Father Fred Reynolds, SJ; and his nephew, Jason Candella.

Pallbearers are Jimmy Reynolds, Lance Reynolds, Corey Schwartzenburg, Avery Reynolds, Pierce Schwartzenburg, and Jim’s long time friend, Charles Jarrell. Honorary pallbearers are John Pat Reynolds, James Lee Breaux, Porter Schwartzenburg, Emry Reynolds, Isaac Reynolds, Roy Keller, Jr., and Ted Keller. 

The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Sibille Funeral Home in Opelousas on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., followed by a rosary being prayed at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will resume at Sibille Funeral Home on Thursday, June 22, 2023, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.  A mass of Christian Burial, with military honors, will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady Queen of Angels Catholic Church, honoring the life of Jim with Father Jude Halphen celebrating the funeral mass.  Rite of committal will follow at Bellevue Memorial Park.

The family would like to send their deepest appreciation to all of the physicians and nurses at Ochsner-Lafayette General Medical Center, Dr. Philippe Prouet and staff, and Hospice of Acadiana for their exceptional care, compassion, and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Jim Reynolds’ honor to Hospice of Acadiana.

Words of Comfort for the family may be expressed at www.sibillefuneralhomes.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Sibille Funeral Home of Opelousas.