The Life of MARIA R. PARISE

Maria R. (Addesso) Parise, of Reading, passed away on Thursday, September 2, 2021, in the care of Complete Care at Macungie just days shy of her 99th birthday. She was the loving widow of Ornardo G. “John” Parise, who passed away in 2003. Born to the late Sebastian and Agnes (Tucciarone) Addesso, Maria graduated in 1940 as a member of the first graduating class of the current Wyomissing High School. She was a long time member of St. Margaret Roman Catholic Church. Later in life, when her children were in their secondary schools, she enrolled in the Reading Nursing School and completed her training as a Practical Nurse. For several years Maria worked as a Physical Therapy nurse at Community General Hospital on N 6th Street; she later worked in the office of Dr. George Rubright on S 5th and Spruce. In 1983 Maria retired to become a full time Grandmom. Maria was an amazing grandmother to all four of her grandchildren and had an instrumental role in their upbringing. A proud Italian woman, she was very gifted in the kitchen, especially perfecting giambotta (or, as she called it, “jump the boat”) and meatballs and potatoes with caramelized onions. She was quite the skillful bowler and enjoyed bingo. Left to treasure her memory are her sons, Anthony A. Parise of Reading and Ralphael J. Parise (Michele) of Alburtis; her grandchildren: Ana Maria Parise of Leesport; Angelina Parise of Leesport; Andrew Parise of Fleetwood; and Philip Parise (Kelly) of Allentown; and her two great granddaughters, Mary Rose and Annemarie. In addition to her husband and her parents, Maria was predeceased by her brothers, Vincent, Ralph, Joseph, and Daniel. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Maria’s memory may be offered to the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 10, 2021, at 11:00 AM Gethsemane Mausoleum Chapel of Resurrection, 3139 Kutztown Rd, Reading, PA 19605, with burial to follow at Gethsemane Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 9:30 AM until 10:30 AM at Kuhn Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 5153 Kutztown Road, Temple, PA 19560. Condolences may be expressed at ww.kuhnfuneralhomes.com