ROSE PARADIS Obituary published July 12, 2022 Date of Death January 19, 2022
Worcester___Rose Paradis died Friday, January 19, 2022 at St. Vincent Hospital. She was 95.
She lived with her daughter Beverly and granddaughter Sam, whom she helped raise—a mother and friend to both. She is also survived by her son Bryant of Westborough, MA, daughter Patricia of Greeley, CO, and son Daniel of Massachusetts and their spouses; eight grandchildren and their children; many beloved nieces and nephews; and her consuegra-hija, Cathlyn of Brentwood, CA.
Her husband, Gerard “Jerry” Alfred Paradis (the love of her life) had long predeceased her, as had their newborn son, Jeffrey. She was also predeceased by her two sisters, Rita Keller and Celina Martell and four brothers, Henry, Edward, Francis and Robert Hebert, and their spouses. Her mother-in-law and second mother, Marie Antoinette Paradis, and her sisters-in-law and friends, Claire Szafarowicz and Lucille Paradis, also predeceased her.
Rose was born July 11, 1926 in Oxford, the daughter of Edward and Alice (Paul) Hebert. She married the boy in the triple-decker next door and became a proud WWII wife, mother and mémère. Whenever her husband was terrible and hilarious, her mellifluous voice would ring out, “Oh, Jerry!” followed by laughter. Rosie helped him host card games and big 4th of July parties, cooked and ironed and tended to unruly children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren—played board games with them, picked blueberries, walked them to the pond and corner store or ice cream stand, and made a mean first-aid butterfly.
Rose worked at TJX in Worcester for decades, retiring at the age of 86. It was there she met her dear friends, Cristina, Rita, and Pam. Rosie was talented at crocheting, enjoyed road trips, loved cheering on the Bruins, kept a Pepsi on her bed stand, woke with a smile, and made giant pots of French spaghetti. She was four-foot-ten, but in denial. She liked cute clothes almost as much as she liked disappearing into her enormous, horrible-but-warm “squirrel sweater.”
Her warmth, sense of humor, twinkling eyes, and sweet smile will be greatly missed and remembered. Good natured and fun to tease, she was always up for a water fight and laughed heartily if you hopped around on her bed while she was settling in to sleep. She loved our drives up the coast of Cape Anne—fried clams and candy, boardwalk music and ocean breezes, and all the tourist traps in between. She enjoyed dressing up and was as happy costumed as a dread pirate at a Salem photo studio (at age 80) as she was to hand out Halloween candy while costumed as an anime French maid (at age 90). Rosie was a fun companion and a true friend, as well as a wonderful mother. We love you, Little Mama, Ladybug.