Michael Paparella
So sad that another of the Paparella 5 has left us, but happy that he died in his sleep and is now reunited with mom, dad, Rosemary, Louie, Rose, Marta, Paul, Paul David, Susie Mangiapane, Mary Villerius and so many others crossing over to eternal life before him. I have so many fond and wonderful memories of Vince and family from fishing, sailing, skating on Muskegon Lake and Lake Michigan and later cycling the Muskegon Lake bike trail. But standout in my memory are the tale of the toboggan we split the cost and I got to use once! He later told me that it got blown off the roof of their car on the Chicago Skyway when they moved to Milwaukee. He finally paid his half when he visited with Tom with us in Sacramento about 20 years ago. I also remember living with Vince and Rosemary one summer in Milwaukee where I had a job on a construction site just behind their house. It was so hot and humid, I suffered heat stroke the second day and had to quit. And similarly suffering heat stroke laying drainage tile on their farm on Fruitridge Road. Then there was the story of the boat he and Paul Langlois purchased and kept on Muskegon Lake. That ugly old boat mysteriously caught fire one night and was burned to the water line. But, what I will always remember most about Vince is his deep devotion to Christ and prayers with others which helped me return to my Catholic faith and his beautiful children Tom, Theresa, Kathy, Matt, Mike, Tony and MaryBeth. Love you all. Love you brother Jimmy and hope and pray that I am worthy some day to join you and family on the other side. Ciao and Arriderchi my brother.
