GLOUCESTER: Grace M. Parisi, 94, died Saturday, December 3, 2011 in the Seacoast Nursing & Rehabilitation Center surrounded by her family. She was the wife of the late Thomas Parisi who died in 1991.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 29, 1917, she was the daughter of the late Dominic and Mary (LoPiccolo) Parisi who had immigrated from Italy. She has resided in Gloucester most her life and had attended Gloucester public schools.
Grace was employed as a cafeteria cook at the Plum Cove Elementary School for many years. She had also once worked at The Mill on Maplewood Avenue for several years. She enjoyed her shopping trips to Boston and especially loved to spend time with her family. She was a special person with a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone in need.
She is survived by three daughters and a son-in-law, Catherine Genovese of Gloucester, Geraldine Fitzgerald of Bar Harbor, Maine and Carol and John Cooney of Gloucester; thirteen grandchildren, Grace and her husband, Bill Cunningham, Jr., Paul and his wife, Maryann Genovese, Grace and her husband, Sean Frost, Christine and her husband, Mike Amero, Robert and his wife, Tara Harting and Jennifer Parisi all of Gloucester, Joanne and her husband, Kim Favazza of Indialantic, FL, Thomas and his wife, Semma Parisi of Las Vegas, NV, James Fitzgerald, Jr. and Gail and her husband Glenn Hackelberg all of Ellsworth, ME, Christian and his wife, Chassie Fitzgerald of Franklin, ME and Thomas Parisi and Dominic and his wife, Jennifer Parisi all of Oldsmar, FL; twenty-two great-grandchildren; a sister, Josephine and her husband, Thomas Linquata of Gloucester; a daughter-in-law, Judith Parisi and a son-in-law, Richard Harting both of Gloucester and among the many nieces and nephews, a special niece, Cecelia Gray. She was also predeceased by two sons, Nicholas and Dominic Parisi, a daughter, Mary Harting, two sons-in-law, Paul Genovese and James Fitzgerald and five sisters, Pearl Salafia, Helen Loiacano, Mary Vadala, Rose Parisi and Jenny Strescino.
Her funeral service will be held on Wednesday in the Calvary Cemetery, Eastern Ave., (Rt. 127) Gloucester at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o Holy Family Parish, 60 Prospect St., Gloucester, MA 01930 or to the charity of one’s choice.