December 20, 1937 to September 29, 2021
Loving Husband, Beloved Father To His Girls, Greatest Papa To His Eight Grandchildren, Patriarch Of The Parilla Descendants, Member Of The Nomads, Founder Of The Use-To-Bes.
Born in Youngstown, Ohio, William S. Parilla (Bill, Billy, Dad, Papa or “Bede” to his family) grew up outside of New York City in New Rochelle, New York. He had a wonderful childhood as the oldest of six siblings—Bobby, Cathy, Maryanne, Ralph, Peggy and John. He attended both Iona Preparatory School and Iona College, graduating in 1959. He met his future wife, Janet, at a party in midtown Manhattan in 1966. He didn’t impress her much from the start, but the second he held her hand at Yankee Stadium, their courtship began.
Bill had a very successful career in Sales that spanned over four decades. It began with Monsanto, a job that moved him all over the country, from California to St. Louis to Norwalk, Connecticut. It continued with the Remet Corporation, where Janet and Bill made a home in New Hartford, New York. This is where they raised their three girls—Alyssa, Nina and Lara—and made countless lifelong friends. Later, he started his own company, Par-Chem, until he semi-retired in 2000. When it was time to enjoy their golden years, Bill and Janet decided to move south to the seaside town of Southport, North Carolina, where they had found a beautiful plot of land on the intracoastal waterway. Then, one by one, their three adult children and their families relocated to the Wilmington area.
While enjoying his retirement in the beautiful coastal community of St. James Plantation, Bill returned to his roots and enjoyed singing and tapping away at his keyboard. Music was always a special pastime of his, but it was more than that—he had incredible talent. Decades ago, he started a band, The Nomads, in New York, that produced a hit record that remains in his jukebox to this day. In retirement, he entertained locals for many years with his band, The Use-To-Bes.
Bill is survived by his wife of fifty-three years, Janet, along with his daughters and their husbands—Alyssa and Kevin Kelly, Nina and Tim McPherson and Lara and Tim Meyer. Above all, he cherished the time he spent with his grandchildren who brought him so much pride and joy—Ryan and Kaitlyn, Troy, Alana and Brooke, and Nathan, Camryn and Colby—who absolutely adored him. He was forever proud of them and the family he helped create, and they will miss him beyond measure. He is also survived by five of his six siblings and their spouses, who were all very close to his heart—Bob and Patty Parilla, Cathy and John Manning, Maryanne and Tom Lane, Peggy and Skip Murphy and John and Sue Parilla—along with countless nieces and nephews (the Parilla Descendants). He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Parilla, and his brother, Ralph Parilla (who is survived by his wife, Lisa).
Bill loved his New York sports teams, the Giants and the Yankees. He loved Walt Disney World. He loved his music. He was a devout Catholic. But above all else, he loved his family. In his last weeks, despite his declining health, Bill enjoyed visits from some of his siblings, and spent his final hours with his four girls by his side. The joy his music and his stories brought to them and many others will be cherished forever.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, October 3, 2021, beginning at 1pm at the St. James Chapel (3620 St. James Drive, Southport). A gathering of friends and family will follow at Bill and Janet’s home until 5pm at 3303 Sparkleberry Court, Southport.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.peacocknewnamwhite.com for the Parilla family.
Peacock - Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service, Southport, North Carolina.
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