ST. PETERSBURG, FL: Mary R. (Parisi) Vadala, 95, died Sunday, June 6, 2010 in St. Petersburg, Florida, where she had resided since 1984. She was the wife of the late Capt. John J. Vadala.
Born in St. Louis, Missouri on March 29, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Dominic and Maria (LoPiccolo) Parisi.
Mary married John Vadala on May 17, 1941, and together they shared 65 years of marriage until his passing on January 21, 2007.
Mary worked for more than twenty years as head cook at the Veteran’s Memorial School, where she enjoyed the company of her co-workers and, especially, her contact with the children.
She was a parishioner of the former St. Peter’s Church, where she was a member of the Women’s Sodality.
Mary enjoyed cooking and knitting, and like many ladies of her era, was addicted to soap operas and discussed episodes in great detail over coffee with friends are neighbors.
A loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, she was especially happy during time spent with family, friends and neighbors. Though she had lived in Florida during her later years, her heart was always in Gloucester, with its familiar features, its seafaring history, and its people.
During the years she lived in Gloucester, her nieces and nephews found visiting Aunt Mary was always a joy. She had a unique way of making each niece and nephew feel special. While her cooking and baked treats were terrific, her lasting gifts were her affection and love. Her beloved grandchildren, her special joys, were gifted with her support and love.
Mary is survived by four sons and two daughters-in-law, Matthew Vadala, Patrick and Margaret (Harris) Vadala, Frank and Paulene (Ferriero) Vadala all of St. Petersburg, FL, and Dominic Vadala of Amesbury; five grandchildren, Marie Vadala, John, Craig, Brent and Nicholas Vadala; two stepgrandsons, Jay Barner and Justin Barner; five great-grandchildren, Michael, Dayna, James and Britney Vadala and Christopher Ferguson; three sisters and a brother-in-law, Grace Parisi, Rose Parisi and Josephine “Fini” and Thomas Linquata; three sisters-in-law, Veronica Naves, Analia “Ann” Vadala, and Ethel Vadala, and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by a son, Dominic Vadala; three sisters and four brothers-in-law, Pearl and Mario Salafia, Helen and Salvatore Loiacano, Jennie and Rico Strescino, Thomas Parisi, husband of Grace, Thomas Parisi, husband of Rose, and several nieces and nephews.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday morning in the Our Lady of Good Voyage Church at 9:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester on Thursday from 5 – 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be made to Suncoast Hospice, 300 East Bay Dr., Largo, FL 33770. Interment will be held in the Calvary Cemetery.