May She Continue To Rest In Peace,   She Live A Wonderful Long Life:

I feel so incredibly lucky to have had such a wonderful woman welcome me into her family almost forty five years ago when I married her youngest son, Edward. She was the rock that held the family together and when I became part of that family she made sure I knew she would always be there for me, no matter what. She never took sides in any situation but made it clear that she loved us both, just as she loved Maryann and Anthony when they became part of her family. Mom loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren, an enduring love which was obvious as soon as you entered her home. She surrounded herself with the people she loved. Every wall, every surface in Mom’s house has photos of her family. Mom shared family recipes, loved her garden, sewed and altered clothing for her children and grandchildren, made so many Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, not to mention Sunday dinners, and told us stories of the “Old Days.” She was my second mother, and when I lost my mother fifteen years ago she stepped right up to fill the void.  She was a very important part of my life and I will miss her. I am grateful to have had her in my life and been a part of hers. She was a gift I will cherish forever.

MOM (Page 1)
100 Years, 3 Weeks, 1 Day. Imagine living that long. Well, mom did! And it was a life well lived. I don’t know how to describe in 5 minutes something so extraordinary, but I’ll try.
Mom lived through the Great Depression, WW II, the Korean and Vietnam Wars; Iraq and Afghanistan. She saw man land on the moon. She lived through the reign of 9 pontiffs and the administrations of 18 Presidents. Mom witnessed the explosion of technology—for better or worse. 
She experienced all that and so much more! Amazing!
But for all that mom lived through, I think two words sum up what she lived for: family and faith. Mom literally lived for her family her entire life.
When Vinnie was a young girl—her family living on the Lower East Side of Manhattan-- she went to school and helped care for her brothers while her parents both worked. Then when she was old enough she went to work as a seamstress.
In High School she met a young man—also named Vinnie—at the Settlement House on Henry Street, and they became friends. Soon he went off to serve his country during WWII and they kept in touch. When he returned after the war he went straight to mom’s house, but she wasn’t home. He had a long conversation with her mother, Concetta, and immediately won her over. When mom got home Concetta told her, “the General came to see you.”
After a short courtship they were married on June 16, 1946 and started a family of their own; the beginning of a 60-year marriage until dad’s death in 2006. They raised 3 children and enjoyed 5 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren!
No matter what was happening in the world, or with her own health, mom always worried and cared about her family. And I mean ALL of us! Right to the end. And to be honest, it wasn’t always easy. We used to say mom was a saint for putting up with dad and Phil and me… well mostly dad and Phil. And mom would confide in Nancy by speaking in Italian to her because she knew Phil and I didn’t understand. 

MOM (Page 2)
When I was in elementary school, I went to P.S. 111 right down the street. We lived in Ravenswood and mom finally allowed me to walk to school with my friends. What I didn’t know is from the window of one of our bedrooms you could see straight down 21st Street, almost all the way to school. And mom would watch me from that window… almost every day. That was mom. Always looking out for her kids.
For a time all 3 of us took music lessons at Mr. Kleon’s school on Broadway—Nancy and I took piano and Phil the guitar. And mom would take us every week. She and dad thought learning an instrument was important.
When Phil and Maryann and Nancy and Anthony got married, they bought a 2-family house on 30th Drive. A few years later the two Vinnies bought the house next door and created the Parisi “compound,” where we enjoyed many family celebrations and big Sunday dinners. All that mattered was having the family together. It was like heaven on earth for them.
Mom’s faith in God was incredibly strong. No matter what life threw at her and dad her faith could not be shaken. 
Last year for her 99th birthday she wasn’t feeling well and was in considerable pain. She kept praying to God to take the pain away, but it seemed God wasn’t listening. I got angry and said I was going to MAKE God listen—in slightly more colorful language than that. And mom—even through her pain—called me over to her and said, “Don’t curse God. Don’t curse God.” Even through her pain her faith was rock solid. So what could I do? I listened to my mother and shut up.


MOM (Page 3)
I need to say something about Nancy and Phil here. 
Nancy has been taking care of mom these last few years, and we know the last two have been particularly challenging. And she has never complained. In fact, there were times Phil and I would tell her, would you scream or yell or throw something to let off some steam! But she never did. And we know what a difficult patient mom could be at times, but we also know mom didn’t want anyone else to care for her and always appreciated everything Nancy did for her. 
Mom and dad always looked forward to Phil and Maryann’s visits from Florida. When she knew they were coming she couldn’t wait to see them. Her attitude always perked up when they were here. And she would almost always have little projects for Phil to do around the house. Because she knew he would take care of anything she needed to be done to perfection.
After 100 Years, 3 Weeks and 1 Day mom decided it was time to move on and be with dad and Anthony and Stephen, and the rest of the family in heaven. I’m sure she’s already planning this Sunday’s big family dinner.
Mom, we are sorry you had to leave us but happy to know you are at peace. We will always love you and miss you. Linda asked Stephen to take care of you for us, but I’m sure YOU are taking care of HIM, just like you looked out for all of us.


OBITUARY

Vincenza Parisi

August 20, 1921 – September 11, 2021

Conway Funeral Home

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