James Donald Giuffré

James Donald Giuffré, age 74, died on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at Kindred Northwest Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer. Jim was born on July 26, 1939, in Houston, the first child of Sam Giuffré and Lois Schneider Giuffré. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Ronald; he is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Autumn Elizabeth and Brian Wayne Palm, and by his granddaughters, April Elizabeth, Allison Christine, and Annaliese Elsa Palm. He is also survived by his sisters, Carol Felix and Sharon Keith, and by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Dennis and Mary Giuffré, Gary and Diane Giuffré and Richard and Linda Giuffré, and by numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Jim grew up in West University Place, and attended St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. He graduated from St. Thomas High School in 1957, earned a BBA degree from the University of Houston, and a JD degree from South Texas College of Law. Jim had a long career in the practice of law, including service in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office, and then in private practice with the firm of Williams and Boyd, and since 1986, as a sole practitioner. He was a past director of the Texas Trial Lawyers Association.

Jim served in the Army National Guard from 1962 until 1970. He was also a Life Member and Lifetime Committee-Man of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

Jim was a longtime student of, and had an intense interest in, Texas and Southern history and culture. He was a active member of various heritage organizations, based on his ancestry, including The Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Military Order of the Stars and Bars, serving as an officer in local chapters. He was also an Admiral in the Texas Navy.

Jim engaged in numerous Civil War reenactments over the years, in such famed battlefields as Shiloh and Gettysburg. He had served as Judge Advocate, Headquarters Department, Texas Brigade, Cleburne’s Division. In the field, Captain James Giuffré was a mounted staff officer. Jim frequently attended the annual Southern Heritage Ball, and was the Marshall of the Ball in 2012.

Jim greatly enjoyed singing, both in musical theater, and in his church choir. He often performed in dramatic theater as well. Jim was very talented at ballroom dancing; and was a fisherman and hunter throughout his lifetime. He especially delighted in conversation and in encouraging others in their pursuits.

In 1974, Jim Giuffré composed the organizational charter and by-laws for a non-profit foundation that, for the next forty years, would provide material support and a safe haven for senior Catholic priests who wished to offer publicly the ancient Roman liturgy, or Latin Mass, which had been effectively suppressed in 1971. Over the last four decades, Jim was thereby instrumental in enabling Catholics in the greater Houston area, as well as pilgrims coming to Texas from around the globe, to participate in the form of worship that has been handed down to the Catholic world since the time of the apostles.

Visitation will be held at St. Jude Shrine, at 3103 N. Main, (Highway 90A), in Stafford, Texas, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Sunday, May 25, with the recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 PM. A brief second visitation will commence on Monday, May 26, at 9:00 AM, followed by the Requiem Mass at 10:00 AM. Burial service will follow at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery. Out-of-town and local family and friends of Jim Giuffré who are unable to attend the funeral Mass may watch it live as a live-streaming web-cast at 10AM CDT on Monday, May 26, or later, as an archived video, from any computer with an internet connection speed of 1MBPS or greater at: www.tikilive.com/show/saintjudes When prompted for the password to enter the site and to watch the video, enter the word: “jude75” (one word, all lower case).

Floral arrangements will be received until 3:00 pm on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at Bereford Funeral Service, 13501 Alief Clodine Road, Houston, Texas 77082, or between 12 noon and 2:00 pm on Sunday, May 25, 2014 at the church.