Obituary for Gerardo J. "Jerry" Parisella
Gerardo J. "Jerry" Parisella
Of Bedford, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, July 2nd, 2022 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family after a period of declining health. He was 90.
Born on November 14, 1931 in Beverly; son of the late Julius P. Parisella and Mary F. (Sincore) Parisella. Jerry was raised in Beverly, spent more than 35 years in Bedford, and for a period of time resided in Waltham.
Growing up on the Ryal Side section of Beverly, Jerry spent afternoons tossing a football or playing sandlot baseball with his friends and cousins on Giles Avenue. Cultivating early on what became his renowned green thumb, Jerry planted purple irises for his mom, Mary, at age 11. These irises were shared through three generations and are still alive today. On Sunday afternoons, Mary would pack her contributions to Sunday dinner, including her famous lemon meringue pie, for the bus ride to Aunt Clara’s in Beverly Farms. Jerry and his sisters, Cynthy and Loretta, spent the day enjoying games of Lotto with their younger cousins while they fought over who would get the coveted last piece of Aunt Clara’s pizza or ricotta cheese pie.
A strong student throughout his years in the Beverly school system, Jerry attended Grammar school, Briscoe Junior High School, and graduated from Beverly High School in 1948. A lover of math and especially of history, with a natural athletic ability, he could easily have been a college football star who went on to become a teacher of either subject. But his patriotism was the stronger draw and he chose to enter the military. Still 17, Jerry needed to have written parental permission to enter his country’s service, and he convinced Mary to sign him up. Jerry proudly entered the United States Air Force in 1948 and served honorably as an Airman First Class Teletype operator in Guam during the Korean War.
Once back state-side, Jerry attended night school, furthering his education with a Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University in 1962. Jerry was employed as an Accounting Manager until his retirement after 44 years with G.T.E. Sylvania in Waltham and Needham. He enjoyed organizing company softball and bowling leagues and dressed up as the jolliest Santa each year at the company holiday party.
Whether you knew him as Jerry, Dad, Grampy, Papi, or Mr. P, you knew a man who lived for his family, adored his friends, and rejoiced in his faith. He had a tremendous ability to form fast connections and to envelop his loved ones with his kindness and generosity. While Jerry was well known for his lively sense of humor, he was also the first to offer strength and support in times of need.
Jerry took his sports fandom quite seriously over the years. From sporting his “#1 Fan” jacket to donning a “Bedford Bucs” license plate around his neck at his daughters’ games, Jerry was a beloved fixture in the local athletic arenas. When he wasn’t taking stats, he joyously conducted the crowds with spirited cheers, and was even known to throw handfuls of candy into the delighted stands. As a lifelong Red Sox and Patriots fan, Jerry also devoted many an afternoon to motivating his hometown teams from the comfort of his favorite armchair. For years, he was an Umpire for the Bedford Babe Ruth Youth Baseball league. He not only umpired, but he was a teacher of the game and the kids loved him for it.
Jerry had many different hobbies and interests throughout his life. His love for gardening grew to include the biggest tomatoes and cucumbers around. Jerry devoured the Boston Globe cover to cover, completed word search puzzles galore, reigned as the family’s fiercest cribbage champion, and fed anyone and everyone his famous ‘scarole patties, fried eggplant, and apple pie. A source of pure pride for Jerry was decorating his home for Halloween. What began as a few leafmen dressed in his old clothing, soon grew to an entire spooky village complete with lit torches that came dangerously close to his long gray witch’s wig. He meticulously stuffed bags full of candy for each child who came to visit. Each year, he and Lorraine looked forward to taking their family to Walt Disney World, where Jerry was at home in the Hall of Presidents, on the Pirates of the Caribbean, and in the Small World boats. His truest joy was seeing his family and friends enjoying themselves on these special trips.
Jerry is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years Lorraine (Cafarella) Parisella; his devoted & loving daughters Geri (Parisella) DiBona of Reading; Carli (Parisella) Kyvelos and her husband Nicholas of Maynard; Julie (Parisella) Abdalah and her husband Ernie of Foxboro; Judy Parisella of Mansfield; Mary Parisella and her husband John McCarthy of Amesbury; Patti (Parisella) Stowell and her husband David of Gloucester; Pamela (Parisella) Dailey and her husband Steven of Portsmouth, NH; and Christine (Parisella) Ciampa and her husband Frank of Foxboro; his cherished grandchildren Xander, Theodore, Stella, Jim, Katie, Kelsey, Dena and Justice. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, and extended family, who will all miss him dearly.
He was predeceased by his dear sisters Cynthia Keech and Loretta Smagala.
Family and friends are welcome to join us on Saturday, July 9th at the Mary Catherine Chapel at Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, Waltham.
Celebration of Life: 10am-1pm
Mass Service and Open Eulogy time: 1pm
Those who wish to pay their respects to Jerry and his family can do so during the Celebration of Life. For those who wish to pay their final respects, but are unable to attend, please be sure to sign the guestbook at www.BrascoFuneralhome.com. Parking attendants will be on duty.
Expressions of sympathy can be made in Jerry's memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306.
Of Bedford, passed away peacefully on Saturday evening, July 2nd, 2022 in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family after a period of declining health. He was 90.
Born on November 14, 1931 in Beverly; son of the late Julius P. Parisella and Mary F. (Sincore) Parisella. Jerry was raised in Beverly, spent more than 35 years in Bedford, and for a period of time resided in Waltham.
Growing up on the Ryal Side section of Beverly, Jerry spent afternoons tossing a football or playing sandlot baseball with his friends and cousins on Giles Avenue. Cultivating early on what became his renowned green thumb, Jerry planted purple irises for his mom, Mary, at age 11. These irises were shared through three generations and are still alive today. On Sunday afternoons, Mary would pack her contributions to Sunday dinner, including her famous lemon meringue pie, for the bus ride to Aunt Clara’s in Beverly Farms. Jerry and his sisters, Cynthy and Loretta, spent the day enjoying games of Lotto with their younger cousins while they fought over who would get the coveted last piece of Aunt Clara’s pizza or ricotta cheese pie.
A strong student throughout his years in the Beverly school system, Jerry attended Grammar school, Briscoe Junior High School, and graduated from Beverly High School in 1948. A lover of math and especially of history, with a natural athletic ability, he could easily have been a college football star who went on to become a teacher of either subject. But his patriotism was the stronger draw and he chose to enter the military. Still 17, Jerry needed to have written parental permission to enter his country’s service, and he convinced Mary to sign him up. Jerry proudly entered the United States Air Force in 1948 and served honorably as an Airman First Class Teletype operator in Guam during the Korean War.
Once back state-side, Jerry attended night school, furthering his education with a Bachelor's degree from Northeastern University in 1962. Jerry was employed as an Accounting Manager until his retirement after 44 years with G.T.E. Sylvania in Waltham and Needham. He enjoyed organizing company softball and bowling leagues and dressed up as the jolliest Santa each year at the company holiday party.
Whether you knew him as Jerry, Dad, Grampy, Papi, or Mr. P, you knew a man who lived for his family, adored his friends, and rejoiced in his faith. He had a tremendous ability to form fast connections and to envelop his loved ones with his kindness and generosity. While Jerry was well known for his lively sense of humor, he was also the first to offer strength and support in times of need.
Jerry took his sports fandom quite seriously over the years. From sporting his “#1 Fan” jacket to donning a “Bedford Bucs” license plate around his neck at his daughters’ games, Jerry was a beloved fixture in the local athletic arenas. When he wasn’t taking stats, he joyously conducted the crowds with spirited cheers, and was even known to throw handfuls of candy into the delighted stands. As a lifelong Red Sox and Patriots fan, Jerry also devoted many an afternoon to motivating his hometown teams from the comfort of his favorite armchair. For years, he was an Umpire for the Bedford Babe Ruth Youth Baseball league. He not only umpired, but he was a teacher of the game and the kids loved him for it.
Jerry had many different hobbies and interests throughout his life. His love for gardening grew to include the biggest tomatoes and cucumbers around. Jerry devoured the Boston Globe cover to cover, completed word search puzzles galore, reigned as the family’s fiercest cribbage champion, and fed anyone and everyone his famous ‘scarole patties, fried eggplant, and apple pie. A source of pure pride for Jerry was decorating his home for Halloween. What began as a few leafmen dressed in his old clothing, soon grew to an entire spooky village complete with lit torches that came dangerously close to his long gray witch’s wig. He meticulously stuffed bags full of candy for each child who came to visit. Each year, he and Lorraine looked forward to taking their family to Walt Disney World, where Jerry was at home in the Hall of Presidents, on the Pirates of the Caribbean, and in the Small World boats. His truest joy was seeing his family and friends enjoying themselves on these special trips.
Jerry is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years Lorraine (Cafarella) Parisella; his devoted & loving daughters Geri (Parisella) DiBona of Reading; Carli (Parisella) Kyvelos and her husband Nicholas of Maynard; Julie (Parisella) Abdalah and her husband Ernie of Foxboro; Judy Parisella of Mansfield; Mary Parisella and her husband John McCarthy of Amesbury; Patti (Parisella) Stowell and her husband David of Gloucester; Pamela (Parisella) Dailey and her husband Steven of Portsmouth, NH; and Christine (Parisella) Ciampa and her husband Frank of Foxboro; his cherished grandchildren Xander, Theodore, Stella, Jim, Katie, Kelsey, Dena and Justice. In addition, he is survived by many nieces, nephews, and extended family, who will all miss him dearly.
He was predeceased by his dear sisters Cynthia Keech and Loretta Smagala.
Family and friends are welcome to join us on Saturday, July 9th at the Mary Catherine Chapel at Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, Waltham.
Celebration of Life: 10am-1pm
Mass Service and Open Eulogy time: 1pm
Those who wish to pay their respects to Jerry and his family can do so during the Celebration of Life. For those who wish to pay their final respects, but are unable to attend, please be sure to sign the guestbook at www.BrascoFuneralhome.com. Parking attendants will be on duty.
Expressions of sympathy can be made in Jerry's memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY 10306.