John D. Parolin formerly of Billerica, MA and most recently Nashua, NH, passed away peacefully at the age of 88 years old on Wednesday, February 10, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Nashua of natural causes.
John was born August 3, 1932, in Fitchburg, MA to his late parents Angelo and Matilda (Lago) Parolin, who had emigrated from Tezze, Italy just prior to his birth. A proud graduating member of the Villanova University Class of 1954, he maintained a strong connection to the school and a passion for Villanova basketball throughout his life.
John married his high school sweetheart Lucille Dextraze in 1955 and the couple raised 6 children in Billerica during their 30-year marriage before Lucille passed away in 1985. John supported his family as a successful agent with Allstate Insurance in Reading, MA for over 20 years and received the company’s Gold Record Award as the top life insurance producer in the country on multiple occasions.
John married Katherine (Root) Parolin in 1999 and spent 21 years with her, residing in both northern Massachusetts and in the Foxfire community of Naples, FL before relocating in 2017 to Hunt Community in Nashua.
A devoted family man and accomplished professional, John was passionate about his Catholic faith and serving his community. A lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, he was a proud supporter of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Jude’s Hospital, St. Theresa’s Parish in Billerica, Austin Preparatory School in Reading and Merrimack College of North Andover, MA. John served these causes in both official and unofficial capacities for most of his life.
A gentleman’s gentleman, John was defined by his care for others and a manner that encouraged all to never be too busy for kindness. John also loved simple pleasures – his morning coffee and a good breakfast conversation, Scrabble, Cribbage, other board games, a good game of cards and the sport of golf. He’d have been far too modest to tell you about his hole-in-one, but he’d show no such restraint talking about his 15 grandchildren.
In addition to his wife Katherine, John is survived by his five children and their spouses – John and wife Julie of Nashua, NH, Michael and wife Denise of Saco, ME, James and wife Nancy of Amherst, NH, Scott and wife Pauline of Windham, ME, and Luanne Neves of Holyoke, MA. John was predeceased by a son, Mark Parolin and his son-in-law Jorge Neves.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the staffs of The Hunt Community and St. Joseph Hospital for their care, kindness and support.
A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for immediate family only due to Covid 19 Protocols on Thursday, Feb. 18 at Parish of the Resurrection in Nashua. Interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA. All in all, he would’ve rather been golfing.
In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to the employee scholarship fund at the Hunt Community, 10 Allds Street, Nashua NH 03060 or St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Arrangements were entrusted to Farwell Funeral Home, 18 Lock Street Nashua, NH.
