Thomas J. Parisi

GLOUCESTER — Thomas J. Parisi, 77, husband of Mary Ann (Lucido) Parisi, of Gloucester, died on Saturday evening, Aug. 9, 2008 at the Addison Gilbert Hospital.

Born in Gloucester on Nov. 14, 1930 son of the late Anthony and Catherine (Brancaleone) Parisi.

Tom attended Gloucester Schools and had served in the U.S. Army with the 3rd Armor Division at Fort Knox, Kentucky. At the age of 14, he began fishing with his father on his boat the Novelty. He worked as a fisherman for most of his life on many vessels including St. Anthony, Njorth, Gaetano S., Capt. Scrod, Ida & Joseph, and the sword fishing boat Kristina which sank in the early 1970s. He later owned the Little Mary and Thumbs Up.

Tom was a master rigger and net mender and when he wasn't fishing, he worked at the Beacon Marine, Rocky Neck Railways and also at Cyrk. He was also excellent at splicing the large cable wires on fishing boats and was often called upon to fix numerous cable lines.

One of his favorite hobbies was caring for birds and animals and was a long time member of the Cape Ann Pigeon Club, training and racing pigeons. Tom loved the ocean, taking rides along the backshore and he enjoyed being a member of the Capt. Lester S. Wass Post 3 Gloucester American Legion.

Tom was a hard working family man and dearly cherished his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

In addition to his wife Mary Ann, he is survived by his four children, Catherine McCormick and husband Anthony of Haverhill, Anthony Parisi and companion Kimberly Cross of Beverly Farms, Frank Parisi and wife Ann Marie of Gloucester, Pamela Iwanicki and husband Steve of Salem; grandchildren, Colleen Kwiatkowski and husband David of Naperville, Ill., Crystal McCormick of Haverhill, David Parisi and wife Shayna of Roseville, Calif., Ashley Parisi of Gloucester, Katrina Parisi of Gloucester, Jordyn Parisi of Beverly Farms, Randy Parisi, Stefanie, both of Gloucester, Jeffrey and Jessica Iwanicki of Salem; great-grandchildren, Rachel Kwiatkowski, Karli, Tyler, Colin Brasil, all of Haverhill, Cailyn Parisi, Austin Rodriguez, both of Roseville; his sisters, Rosalie Laiachino, Maria Pizzimenti and husband Vincent, all of Gloucester; his brother, Joseph Parisi and wife Paige of New Hampshire; and many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his sister, Lucy Favazza and brother-in-law, Joseph Laiachano.

ARRANGEMENTS: His funeral will be held from the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington St., Gloucester, on Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at St. Ann's Church on Wednesday at 9 a.m. The burial will be held in Calvary Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Day By Day Adult Care, 4R Blackburn Center, Gloucester, MA 01930 or to the Holy Family Parish, 60 Prospect St., Gloucester, MA 01930.