Bobbi Jo Paridon
Alice was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, sister in law, aunt to many, and a friend and saint to all. Born in Chicago, Illinois June 8 1936 the big sister of her 2 adored brothers Jim and Mike.
She was a graduate of Niles McKinley High School in Niles, also attending Youngstown State University of Ohio.
Alice (the homecoming queen) met the love of her life, Richard (the football star) after he returned from the service. These were the days of poodle skirts, sock hops, drive- in movies, soda fountain shops & Elvis Presley, although Alice lived by the music of Neil Diamond. Cleaning and dancing went hand in hand.
Together they had 6 children, Bob, Sherri, Jim, Bill, David & John Richard Paridon, who died shortly after birth. The children were Raised in a warm loving environment filled with fun and laughter but also with structure, values and morals that are apparent by the generation surviving her. It was a household where there was never a dull moment as you could imagine. Alice, then, as she always was, the backbone that held it all together. If there were any glitches no one would know, she handled it calmly, quietly and with love, ease and gentle care. The finest example of what this iconic mother did. When asked what was the biggest impact your mother had in your life, a common response by all the siblings was how she made each and every one of them feel special and important, not only as children but also as adults. Over the span of 20 years Alice was also blessed with 8 beautiful, amazing, strong, hard working, intelligent, not to mention pretty darn good looking, grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
Word on the street "Everyone wants to be a Paridon".
Not only was she the perfect paternal icon, and role model but had a full time career as an executive secretary in the booming steel industry for over 35 years where she was also admired and highly respected. We all know the executive secretary is the behind- the-scenes person who is really running the show, Alice was the silent leader. She knew everything, did everything, but said nothing. Women were just emerging as equals in the workplace. Back then, as a woman, you had your lane and you stayed there. Her leadership role in today's time is an executive assistant and she gets all the deserving credit as well as the wage she equally deserves. Like everything else she did her job to perfection with discipline, professionalism, dignity, class and grace.
Imagine living 90 years, I mean really think about it. She was born just 3 years after the great depression. Lived during the beginning and the end of WWII, and witnessed the civil rights movement. Telephones were not even developed until the 1940's nor network television. Yet she knew her way around the computer, cell phone, and smart TV. She was intelligent and wise yet extremely humbling.
In 2007 Dick and Alice moved to their peaceful paradise of the Villages where together they shared their well deserved golden years living their best life.
Eventually travel became difficult and the days of coming home to Ohio were replaced with technology. Facetime allowed them to virtually be a part of family events. Her and dad traveled around the gathering like little robots. Roles were reversed and now we visited them. And of course with family in mind they were equipped to host visits in their 3 bedroom home, because that’s how she wanted it. When the family outgrew that she took care of making sure everyone had a place to stay. A true attest to how everything she did was done. She was organized and always prepared to make sure everyone's needs were satisfied. The Captain of our ship.
Never a negative word, always happy and smiling, contagious positive attitude, despite living in pain for many years. She was delightful, energetic and never complained. She was a fun loving person to be around because she surrounded herself with fun loving people. She was not nosy, pushy, or judgemental, but carried the conversation always with sincerity, love, and understanding. Alice had a unique ability, a super- power, to leave her emotions on the table and at the same time have the biggest of- heart. Her role as the matriarch of the family continued on even though she was miles away.
The stability of family, once your children have families of their own, can be difficult, but Alice kept abreast of and involved with everything going on with each of our families. It was important to know birthdays, anniversaries, and any and all the milestones evident from her calendar notebook. Jokingly now referred to as Alice's Holy Grail.
No family is without struggles, and hers was no exception. She carried not only her own burdens but all her family’s as well. What burden’s you say, well right, their burdens were never ours, that’s how they were. So what we can all take from that is life is what you make it. She would want us all to live our lives with the love and devotion like she did, keeping a positive attitude and spreading joy not anger. Learn from the complications you have in your life because that is life. Live life to the fullest and do what brings you joy and happiness. She did, and it is honored and is what allowed her to be there for all us for all this time. All any Mother wants is for her children to be happy. The Matron of the family has left us. She kept the family life- line resilient, strong, and tight, and it would break her heart for that to ever change. It wasn't complicated for her, she valued family. She was our rock, and we must honor and respect what she did for us all, not because she had to, but because she wanted to. I think in the realization that your time is limited you are frozen by the thought that you will be unable to give any more of yourself and all you have to offer your family and an obsession of gathering all that you have becomes your mission, sort of like how squirrels gather their food for the winter. When really, at the end, all everyone wants is for you to still be here with us. When the reality sets in, I think we all will be saying, thinking or wishing, one more welcome greeting, hug and smile at the door, catch up evening phone call, one more Face Time, one more trip to see grandma and grandpa in Florida, one more bagel…..and walking into her charcuterie island, one more phone call driving home from work, one more conversation about gas prices.....or one more whiskey sour. She was our queen Alice, our 1st lady, never overdone, not Flashy or showy. I hope she knew she was always our center of attention though. Her degree of intelligence, class, and endless love and devotion for her family, speaks for itself in the history and legacy she has left behind. We must all strive to do right by her with honor and respect as best as we all can.
Dad’s grief and sadness speaks volumes of what 67 years of life together does. I hope she left knowing he would continue to be loved and supported the way she would want. It’s a standard none of us could possibly live up to but we will all try our best to help him get through this sudden, shock stricken, and life altering time. His faith in God is a saving grace.
There won’t be the worries of how are you doing to which we always heard the response " I am fine", she has now been gloriously reunited into the hands of our lord.
Thank you Alice.
