Thomas P. Arria, Sr., passed away at home surrounded by his loving family. He was 87. Born and raised in Boston’s West End, he was the son of the late Concetto and Isabel (Fama) Arria. As a young man, Tom enjoyed a boxing career and was undefeated until his sixth match. He then retired. Tom was appointed to the Boston Police Department and served in East Boston at station 7. During his 25 years with the department, he spent several years in plain clothes doing homicide investigations and working as a member of the organized crime unit. He retired in 1978. Tom was a proud son of Boston’s West End. He and his wife of 68 years met there and eventually settled in Somerville to raise their family. After 32 years the couple moved to Malden where they enjoyed their retirement. Tom and Anita, the light of his life, were inseparable. He loved to call her his ‘girlfriend’ and whenever they had the chance they enjoyed travelling, especially to take-in the entertainment in Las Vegas and locally in Twin Rivers and Foxwoods.
Tom was a decent man who worked hard for his family and enjoyed time with his children, grandchildren and many friends. He enjoyed sports and still followed boxing and even travelled to three super bowls.
The beloved husband of Anita M. (Lepore) Arria, he was a devoted father to Thomas P. Arria, Jr. of Stoneham and his companion Patricia DeSantis, Mary Hurd and her husband William of Jackson, NJ, Charles S. Arria and his wife Ann P. of North Reading, Paul F. Arria and his wife Francesca of Burlington, John A. Arria and his wife Maria C. of Wilmington, Anna Gullage-Tompkins and her husband William Tompkins of Wilmington, Jeanna Carroll and her husband Paul of Medford and David J. Arria of Georgia. Tom is lovingly survived by 18 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren and was the dear brother of Teresa Arria and her husband Peter and Anthony Arria and his wife Nell.
His funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Wednesday, April 3rd at 8:30 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Raphael Church, 512 High Street, Medford, at 9:30 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Tuesday 4 - 8. Services will conclude with burial at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Tom's name to St. Jude children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.