Obituary of Anthony Parisi

Anthony (Tony) Parisi, age 93, died peacefully at his home in Tucson, AZ, on June 21, 2014, with his loving wife Barbara at his side. Tony was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on Nov 16, 1920, to Michele Salvatore Parisi and Antonina (Ragno) Parisi. He was the fourth of their 10 children, a large and loving family (a younger brother, Michael Parisi, of Florida, survives him). Tony joined the Army in 1941 and served as a Staff Sergeant in England, where he met and married Barbara Shoosmith and they celebrated 70 years of marriage this last April. They lived in Rhode Island for much of their working years, retired to New Bern, North Carolina, then moved to Tucson three years ago to be closer to family. Tony Parisi is survived by 4 children, his daughter, Barbara and husband Tony Vellturo of Vermont, his sons, Mike Parisi and wife Irma, of Tucson, Frank Parisi and wife Debbie, of California, and John Parisi of Tucson. He also has 3 grandchildren, Mike Parisi and Christina Parisi, of Tucson, Bonnie and husband Joe Salamanca of California, and 3 great grandchildren, Chase and Bella Parisi and Ian Salamanca. Tony often said to his children, "Family is everything". He loved family and seeing the whole extended family at the reunions. And, boy, did he love to sing! He knew all of the words to all the old songs, and he knew songs no one had ever heard of. He was a strong man, he was a gentle man and he was a loving man. He touched so many people with his kindness and his songs and no one could look at him without smiling because his heart was just that big. All will miss the kindest and most loving man we have ever known.