Walter "Joe" Parisi

Walter "Joe" Parisi 07/12/1925 ~ 07/21/2010 CARLSBAD -- Everyone knew Walter Joseph Parisi as "Joe." He was a long time resident of Oceanside and Carlsbad. After his time as a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton, Joe was a Jeweler with a family business in downtown Oceanside and years later moved it to Carlsbad. He became a Realtor in the early 1960s and was a Broker for over 40 years. A lot of people remember Parisi Realty in downtown Carlsbad and his long time membership in the Rotary Club of Carlsbad. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Jones and Jody Padfield; step-daughter, Fayetta Tufford, and many grandchildren and great- grandchildren. To celebrate his life, he will be laid to rest at a family graveside service at Eternal Hills in Oceanside followed by a memorial service and reception on Thursday, July 29, at 12:30 p.m., at Carlsbad Community Church, 3175 Harding St. in Carlsbad. In lieu of flowers, a Memorial-Related Gift in his name would be appreciated and can be directed to The Rotary Foundation of Carlsbad c/o Ed Scarpelli, Chairman of the Foundation, PO Box 34, Carlsbad, Calif. 92018. Sign the Guest Book online obits.nctimes.com

To Those I Love and

Those Who Love Me

When I am gone, release me, let me go-

I have so many things to see and do.

You mustn’t tie yourself to me with tears,

Be thankful for our many beautiful years

I gave to you my love. You can only guess

How much you gave to me in happiness.

I thank you for the love you each have shown,

But now it’s time I traveled on alone.

So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must,

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It’s only for a time that we must part

So bless the memories within your heart.

I won’t be far away, for life goes on

So if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can’t see or touch me I’ll be near

And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear

All my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you must come this way alone,

I’ll greet you with a smile, and say …

“Welcome Home”

Joe always liked his desserts because:

Woman and a Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So, as she was getting her things ‘in order’, she contacted her Pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.

She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in.

Everything was in order and the Pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly remembered something very important to her.

‘There’s one more thing,’ she said excitedly.

‘What’s that?’ came the Pastor’s reply.

‘This is very important,’ the young woman continued. ‘I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand.’

The Pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.

‘That surprises you, doesn’t it?’ the young woman asked.

‘Well, to be honest, I’m puzzled by the request,’ said the Pastor.

The young woman explained. ‘My grandmother once told me this story, and from that time on I have always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement. In all my years of attending socials and dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, ‘Keep your fork.’ It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming….like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!’

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder ‘What’s with the fork?’ Then I want you to tell them: ‘Keep your fork…the best is yet to come.’

The Pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death. But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven than he did. She had a better grasp of what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge. She KNEW that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman’s casket and they saw the cloak she was wearing and the fork placed in her right hand. Over and over, the Pastor heard the question, ‘What’s with the fork?’ And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the Pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died.

He also told them about the fork and about what it symbolized to her. He told the people how he could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either.

He was right. So, the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you, ever so gently, that the best is yet to come. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. Cherish the time you have, and the memories you share…being friends with someone is not an opportunity but a SWEET RESPONSIBILITY.