James known by his family as Jimmy and his friends and colleagues as Big JIm, left this world too
soon leaving us with our hearts broken.
Jim was preceded in death by his beloved parents James and Alice Papacena who raised him in the
Bronx where he spoke about his wonderful childhood memories growing up with his sisters, Susan
and Judi. He learned his love of boats and being on the water from hours spent with his dad water
skiing on City Island. His love for all things Christmas came from his mom who always made the
holiday special for the family.
Jim loved fast cars both working on them and driving them which made his parents crazy. His son
Jimmy inherited that gene.
Jim's music tastes ran from the Big Bands and Frank Sinatra to Disco and Jazz. He always had music
on in his car or in the house.
Jim is a graduate of Salesian H.S. in New Rochelle. Early in his career, Jim worked in banking and had
other corporate jobs before starting his own construction company. At the time of his death, Jim was
semi-retired from his own company JP Contracting. He would design and build homes and fix anything
you handed him. As his mom would say "he had gold in his hands".
Jim is survived by the two most important people in his life, his children, James John Papacena (Liza)
and Ashley Elise Terrelonge (Chris). Being their dad gave him his greatest joy and he was proud of
them and who they had become. He was blessed to have lived long enough to see them both successful
and happily married and gave him three beautiful granddaughters - Carissa, Emmy and Riley. Now his
new name was Pop Pop and they could not get enough of each other. He knew his fourth grandchild would join big sister Riley sometime in October. We will make sure they know all about their Pop Pop and how much he loved them.
He is also survived by Marie Galante who he called his best friend and the person who he wanted to grow
old with. Together she helped him raise Jimmie and Ashley and enjoy their grandchildren.
Jimmie's two sisters and their families also survived him. Susan L. Mark (William Jr.), Judith L DeBlasio
(John) as well as his beloved nieces and nephews, Tracey, Billy, Matt & Amanda and his great nieces and nephew Taylor, Grayson, Corinne, Everett, Leah and Zoey.
Jim was a proud patriot. At 6'6'' Jim was an imposing man but anyone who knew him will tell you he had a heart of gold, and would do anything for you. He is missed and still needed by his family and friends.
Funeral Mass and celebration of life will be celebrated in St. Anthony's Church on Wednesday May 12th at 10am. Inurnment will follow at Ferncliff Cemetery in Hartsdale.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Leukemia Lymphoma Society and or Tunnel to Towers Foundation in Jim's honor.
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