Life must go on, whether we want it to or not, but memories never fade, especially for the people we have loved the most.  My heart and my soul will always be a part of my parents'.  I love them and miss them so much.  My memories and my dreams are my most precious possessions, because through them, I can still be with my beloved parents.  I cherish them always.
Ti voglio bene sempre,
Maria 

Papa,

Come li manco.  È incredibile l'amore che ritengo per voi.  Sie il mio angelo nel cielo e hai statto il mio angelo su terra.  Ti amo così tanto.  Nel mio cuore non lo lascerete mai e li conosco vigilanza sopra me tutto il tempo.  So che inoltre guardate Giacome e Jiulia.  Prego sempre stai vicino a noi Papa’. 

Con amore sempre, Maria

DADDY’S EULOGY

Giovanni Parrinello

January 10, 1929 – May 12, 2006

Dad You never looked for praises

You were never one to boast

You just went on quietly working

For those you loved the most

Your dreams were seldom spoken

Your wants were very few

And most of the time your worries

Went unspoken too

You were always there…a firm foundation

Through all our sorrows and storms of life

A steady hand to hold to In times of stress and strife

A true friend I was able to turn to

When times were good or bad

One of my greatest blessings

The man that I call “Papa'”

Daddy, Pappa dell mio cuoro. La fiami che non mai si more nel mio cuoro.  Piu meglio padre di te non che nesuno.  Quando il Dio si ha portato alla Mamma, io era mortificata, ma l’amore tua mi hai ha servata che ancora avia ha te….Ma ora pappa……no chi se piu manco.  Che cosa hai di fara ora con senza di te.  Uno Pappa meriviglioso.  Piu meglio di te non che ne.   Sempre hai voluto bene per me e per tutti.  Ora se con la Mamma.  Ti ha chimato. Ti ha voluto con le.  E ora sona sulla con senza I meiu genitori.  Pappa quando volto abbiamo parlati; mi hai detto di fare le cosi juisti per le mie bambini.. Como hai prometto la Mamma, prometto anche ha te.  Il lavoro che hai fatto tutto la tua vita….io ti prometto e sono sicura che le figli mio lo sano, come hai detto alla Mamma.  La vita mia non e mai lo stesso Pappa.  Ti manco ogni giorno e ogni secondo.

Daddy, I am so proud of your accomplishments in your life. You and Mommy came here with nothing…..NOTHING….and made a heck of a life for yourselves.  There are people who are born and raised here and never accomplished what you did.  And, most importantly, you deserved the respect and acknowledgement for what you accomplished in this life.   He may not have seemed to be very intelligent on the exterior, but he was one of the most intelligent, and business oriented Man I will ever know.  He had maybe a couple hundred bucks in his pocket when they came over from Italy so many years ago and took that money and turned into a small fortune with hard work and determination, along with my Mother’s help.   He couldn’t have done it without my Mother.  They saved every single dime and that is why they are where they are today……….or should I say…..where my children are today! 

My Father was the best man, the best Father, the best Grandfather…..the best husband he could be.  He was never the type to go out at night and hang out with his buddies.  My Mother’s family was his family.  He was home every single night of my life growing up, sitting on that chair tapping his feet.  John, do this, John do that, and he helped my Mother with everything……all the parties we had at our home…..John run to corrodos, John run to the market…..John…..John….John….I don’t ever remember a time he wasn’t home at night.  He loved my Mother and I know he loved you all and I know you all know that.  He was so good to everyone who crossed his path.  He worried about everyone.  When something happened in our family, he was so distraught.   His heart poured out for everyone.   He wasn’t a man of many words….but you  knew how he felt.  He had a soft spot for all of you in his own way.  They weren’t too many people you could go to for help; but my Dad was one of them and I am so proud of him and the Man that he was.  He, just as my Mother was loved by all.  I can honestly say that there is not one person in this room here today that thinks any differently of him.  He was the most humble and beautiful man I will ever know.

The day I wrote my Eulogy for my Mother I said, “There is a hole in my heart that will never be mended, and now that hole is so much bigger and so much deeper.  But, at least they are together now.  My Father was so lonely after my Mother died.  He told me so many times that he loved her so much and that he didn’t want to live without her…..that he saw her around every corner.  I truly believe that he died of a broken heart.  And now, my heart is shattered.

He was always giving out bottles of sauce and wine that he made with his own two beautiful working hands, his hands never stopped working.  He worked till the day he died.  His garden was everything to him, he kept himself busy, maybe too busy.  I kept telling him to slow down…..but he wouldn’t listen to me.  He wouldn’t listen.  Already, it’s only the middle of May and his tomatoes and beans are all planted.  He’s figs are growing.  He just told me last week that the first figs were forming and that he would bring me the first ripen fig, because he knew how much I loved them.  A couple of days ago, he went to Home Depot to go get the netting…grating…whatever the heck it is to tie up the tomatoes and the beans.  Just a couple of weeks ago, he made more wine for the season.  Not even so much for himself, but to give away to everyone because it made him happy to do so.  He was always doing things for others.  Not to mention, all the love and affection and the worrying he did.  It broke his heart when things went so wrong.  When my Mother died…..he was distraught and lonely..oh so lonely.  I worried about him all the time. 

I tried to fill that void as much as I could….Jake and Julia were with him all the time…..he always said that Julia reminded him of my Mother and that she had her funny ways and her attitude…..and that brings me such comfort…..Jake is so much like my Father as well, so sweet and so sensitive.  They were such great buddies…..Jake would walk over to his house, ring the bell and say,”Nonno, make me some pasta please”…..and sure enough, my Father would quickly put the pot on for him.  I hope to GOD, Jake remembers that for the rest of his life, how much Nonno loved him, his little buddy.  My father took him for haircuts all the time…it was their special time together.

Anyway, the void was too big for my Father to handle.  He always told me, he missed my Mother too much…..He missed her so much, as do I ever moment of the day and now I will have to expand my grief for my Beloved, beautiful Father too.  But I feel in my heart and I have faith that they are together now.  I have to have faith that I will see them again.  I am just thankful to God that he didn’t suffer like my Mother did.  Just last week he told me he wanted to go in his sleep and he did….his wish came true….I just didn’t think it would happen this soon.

Aunt Marie, Aunt Joe, Aunt Toni, Aunt Sarina, Uncle Phil..you brought him sunshine and laughter everytime he saw you all show up at the house…..he missed that…he really missed that….the constant family gatherings…..you were his confidants after Mommy passed…..Uncle Charlie…..you gave him a a wonderful year of his life…..and I thank you for that…he needed it.  He needed to care for someone.  He loved taking care of you and making you eggs in the morning….Uncle Ralph….everytime you showed up….he perked up cause he knew you would give him some kind of story to make him laugh.  Linda, you were the one he cried with……you gave each other strength to be able to try to survive your grief……He loved you too and worried about you.

Anthony, Louie……I don’t even have to say anything…..you know what you meant to him.  You were the sons he never had.  And I think he expressed that to you in his own way whenever he had the chance.

And, I will love you all for treating him as he was one of your own.  Because, he always told me that Mommy’s family was “HIS” family!

Da, I will love you forever until I meet you again in the place we call Heaven…..we will have a reunion.  We will all be together again……my Beloved Mother….beautiful Uncle Frank…sweet Aunt Camille…..Sweet sweet Juddy Buddy…. Grandma, Grandpa……and everyone else who has gone on before us. 

Daddy, as for me……I will miss you for all eternity…..until I meet you and Mommy again.  I’ll miss seeing you every morning, every afternoon….all the phone calls, 10 times a day.  I wanted more time with you and for my Husband and my children.   I know Jimmy is not a man of many words, but nor were you, but Jimmy loved you very much.  He always said you were a Father to him and I know you always said what a good person you felt he was and that you loved him with all your heart.  He always said I know he’ll take care of you.

He also said ”Just be smart gioia mia….always be smart and don’t let anyone take advantage of you, always remember everything I’ve told you."  Be strong my little girl…..be strong….always be strong, because I won’t always be here to tell you what to do”, but I’ve taught you well. 

Not too long ago he said to me “I will and have always loved you….you have been my life, your Mother and I did everything for you and our wishes were that we taught you well”.  He said, “Ti  Voglio bene sempre, tu se la mia vita”, La Mamma e io abbiamo fatto tutto per te e per le tue figli, che le abbiamo voluto bene con tutti il cuoro, le nostre gioi”……And for me Daddy, you have been the BEST FATHER, the absolute best Father ANYONE COULD HAVE EVER HAD OR WANTED.

I WILL LOVE YOU AND CHERISH YOU ALWAYS!

NUNZIATA PARRINELLO
MY BELOVED MOTHER
APRIL 22, 1932 - JUNE 14, 2002


God saw you were getting tired,
And a cure was not to be,
So he put his arms around you
 And whispered, “Come to me”.

With tearful eyes we watched you,

And saw you pass away,

Although we loved you dearly,

We could not make you stay

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands at rest,

God broke our hearts to prove to us,

He only takes the best.


 My Aunt Marie found this poem for me the other day and as soon as I read the words, it was as if it was written just for my Mother.

Two months ago, my Father and I received the worst news of our lives.  We were told my Mother had cancer and that it was terminal.  We could not understand why God would take such a beautiful and loving wife, Mother, Grandmother, Sister and friend away from us.  We now understand that God only takes the best, as the poem said.  He has his reasons and he needs her in Heaven.  She loved my Father and I so much.  It is just so hard to let her go.

My parents were married for 46 years.  They came to this country with nothing and with hard work and determination and love for each other made a wonderful life together.  My Father lost a part of his soul on June 14^th.  He loved her very much and will for the rest of his life.  My parent’s home, which was everyone’s home will somehow never be the same.

My children have lost a tremendously loving and generous Nonna.  Jake and mommy loved each other so much.  They were great pals.  My son could do no wrong when it came to my Mother.  She spoiled him rotten and loved every second of it.  He was the joy of her life.  She, along with my Father helped my husband and I raise him.  Every day we went to work, we never worried, never wondered.  We knew he was safe and loved.  He will miss her terribly.  But, he knows that Nonna is safe and in Heaven.

My beautiful Julia, I thank God that my Mother was able to see her and hold her, if only for a very short time.  I will make sure my daughter understands how much my Mother loved her and knows all about her, how wonderful she was.

As for myself, I have lost my beautiful, loving, adoring mother.  My best friend.  There is a hole inside me that can never be mended.  She instilled in me many wonderful qualities that I will pass on to my children.  She was a woman of great strength.  Anyone who met my Mother, was immediately drawn to her.  She was the family clown.  She had a special way of making people laugh, not to mention all the times she dressed up for us.  She had a soft touch, a spirit of life like no other, a truly amazing ability of making people happy.  The most important thing my Mother taught me was how much family and friends mean.  Her family was everything to her.  She was a very simple woman.  Just sitting around the table with her sisters and brothers was all my Mother ever wanted.  She loved you all so much, Antonia, Maria, Phillipo,  Josephine, Carmela and Charlie. 

Sarina, Linda, even though you were sister’s-in-law, she truly thought of you as her sisters.  All her brothers-in-law, her nieces and nephews, please know how much she loved you.

Three years ago, my Grandmother passed away.  My Mother was devastated.  And, I will never forget what she said to me a few days later.  “You will never truly understand the love of a mother until she is no longer with you”.  Well, Mommy, I do understand now.   I love you so much!  I Miss you terribly and I will cherish you always!

There is only one thing that brings my father and I comfort, that she is in Heaven with God and Grandma and Uncle Frank and all those who have passed before her.  Her life here on earth was only a stepping stone.  She has gone on to a better place and I truly believe that one day we will be reunited. 

Daddy and I thank all of our family and friends for taking care of us during this very difficult time.  My Father and I love you. 

My dearest Maria and family,

We were neighbors from childhood..........your home was a landmark for all the St. Anthony's kids.................I just heard of your father's passing today..................Please know that you and your family are in my families prayers and thoughts always.............................I always will keep that memory of your father and the red car and the rabbits..................The Edwards family from 491 Gregory send our love and condolences............................

Dear Aunt Nancy and Uncle John,
Another holiday is upon us and we are left with so many voids in our hearts. YOu are missed so so so much!!! 
The memories are what keep us going.  I remember so many times of friends saying " why are you hanging out with your family"  you guys are all cousins, holy crap"!  Yeah, where are those friends now?  They are here, they are my cousins, my family.  Which without I would be nothing.  Hold the true meaning of what it is really all about. Uncle Johnny and Aunt Nancy used to say and my mother has always been right.  It is family.  It is the time we take to care even if just a phone call.  
We all have so many different things going on and everyone is so busy.  I guess it's the way of life, it's the norm.
Let's be a little "old fashioned" and stay the way we were 30 years ago. Drinking orange soda and homeade wine.  iF dyfuss had any of our stories someone would make a load of cash on a story.  
Merry Christmas to Zia Nenci, Uncle Johnny Baby, Nonna, Nonno, Uncle FRank, Justin and crazy lady Auntie Camille.  We miss you all and a lot!!

hi zia e zio  i miss u so much i came across a pix of me u and zia i miss those days everyone being by ur house with the wanderful pair tree witch were really good .wht i really miss the most is everyone being toghetther we took so meny pixs at the house the memories were great we cunntinue to make more but its not the same with out u both the next memory four me will be me graduating highschool i wish u were hear to see that happen but hey i no everyday u are looking down at all of us and u are thought about greatley i love u much i talk to pp and we are all watching over her i love her so much she is a great cuzin xox love u mucho tiamo bella e bello