BEVERLY: Joseph Tanzella, 90, died Friday, May 16, 2008 in the Pilgrim Rehabilitation & Skilled Nursing Center in Peabody following a brief illness. He was the husband of the late Phyllis (Babcock) Tanzella who died in December of 2000.
Born in Beverly on April 4, 1918, he was the son of the late Giuseppe and Angela (Mercieri) Tanzella. He was a lifelong resident of Beverly and a graduate of Beverly High School class of 1936. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served in Central Europe and the Asiatic Pacific before being honorably discharged as a Warrant Officer Junior Grade in July of 1946.
Joe was employed for many years as a printer at the former Addison-Wesley Publishing Company and the Dekr Publishing Company. An avid bowler, he was a member of the Merchant Bowling League. He also enjoyed for many years, attending Beverly High School football games.
He is survived by five nephews, Robert T. Badcock of Peabody, Ralph and his wife, Diane Parisella and Charles and his wife, Paula Earabino all of Beverly, Joseph Earabino of Hudson, NH and Charles and his wife, Marie Tanzella of Fountain, CO, four nieces, Louise and her husband, Richard Cunningham of Beverly, Marie and her husband, Francis Tosi of Providence, RI, Rita Tanzella of Revere and Ann and her husband, Philip Lessor of Marblehead, four sisters-in-law, Vera French of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Carrie Berman of Tewksbury and Ida McCormack and Patricia Sahovey both of Danvers, two brothers-in-law, David Mercer of Newfoundland, Canada and Raymond Mercer of Toronto, Canada and many great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by three brothers, John "Jack", Charles and Nicholas Tanzella, four sisters, Laura Ellsworth, Elizabeth Parisella, Mary Earabino and Louise Malloy, a niece, Mary Louise (Malloy) Westhoff, five nephews, Paul, Joseph and John Parisella, Richard Earabino and James Tanzella and three brothers-in-law, Robert Badcock and Thomas and Eugene Mercer.
His funeral services will be held on Thursday in the Grondin Funeral Home, 376 Cabot Street, Beverly at 11 a.m. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10 - 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Beverly Football Boosters Club, P.O. Box 246, Beverly, MA 01915. Interment will be held in North Beverly Cemetery.