1915
Bessie
2013
Bessie Nola Parrino
April 20, 1915 — October 28, 2013
“Oldest Living Graduate of Neville High School”
Bessie Nola Parrino, formerly of Monroe, LA, passed away on October 28, 2013 at her daughter’s home in Augusta, GA. A funeral mass will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, November 9th at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Monroe with Father David Richter officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5pm to 7pm on Friday, November 8th at the Mulhearn Funeral Home on Sterlington Road in Monroe. At the visitation, a celebration of her life will be given by two of her grandsons, Todd and Sean Frantom, a eulogy will be given by one of her nieces, Marilyn Nola Hammett of New Orleans, LA, and a rosary will be led by her niece, Patricia Harkins Swenson of Houston, TX. A video of Bessie’s life will be shown at the visitation and was produced by her grandsons Brian Frantom and Todd Frantom and the music for the video was compiled by family friend Belinda Schmidt Bohelke.
Bessie was born in Birmingham, AL on April 20, 1915 to Paul Nola, Sr. and Antoinette Messina Nola, the fourth of six children. Her family settled in Louisiana in the 1920’s. From a young age, she started sewing for her family and became an excellent seamstress with beautiful handwork. She also became the bookkeeper for her parent’s and her grandparent’s grocery stores at an early age. She also cooked and took care of her siblings and was known as the “glue of the family”. She was a National Merit Honor Scholar at Neville High School and graduated in 1933.
Bessie met her future husband, Frank Parrino, Sr. of Bastrop, LA, at a wedding in Monroe and they married in 1936. They had three children Frank Joseph Parrino, Jr., Barbara Jean Parrino Frantom, and Richard Paul Parrino. During WWII, Bessie and five other women started a rosary group and met once a week and prayed for the American servicemen. This rosary group continued meeting once a week until the 1980’s. Her love of her faith continued and she became active in the Catholic Daughters of America (CDA). She was elected twice to be the President of the Louisiana Chapter of the CDA. She was named Catholic Daughter of the Year of Court St. Matthew in 1979. She was on the Altar Society for the Jesus the Good Shepherd Church and she also volunteered to help the Knights of Columbus with their bingo games by keeping their books and making desserts every week for many years. Her hobbies included cooking, bridge, and gardening.
Bessie was also a Girl Scout leader and President of the Northside Garden Club. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and became a poll worker during the elections in Monroe. Her dedication to her church, community, family and friends was a testament to her character and devotion. She loved to cook for her children and grandchildren and centered her life around her family. She will be dearly missed by those who fondly called her “Queen Mother”.
Bessie is preceded in death by her husband and two sons. She leaves behind one daughter Barbara Parrino Frantom (Augusta, GA), son-in-law Sam Frantom (Augusta, GA), three grandsons Todd Frantom (Washington, DC), Brian Frantom (Augusta, GA), and Sean Frantom (Augusta, GA), one granddaughter Andrea Parrino (San Francisco, Calif.), one great-grandson, two great-granddaughters, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School.
Honorary Pallbearers are Danny Nola and Carol Nasca Gershenson both of Baton Rouge, LA; Larry Nola, Jr., Jimmy Nola, Bobby Nola, David Erskine, and Bob Stratton all of Monroe, LA. Readers are Marilyn Nola Hammett (New Orleans, LA), Elaine Nola Jabbia (Beaumont, TX), Patricia Parrino (Monroe, LA), and Andrea Parrino (San Francisco, Calif.). Gift Bearers are Danna Tucker Jefferson and Pam Burgess Stratton, both of Monroe, LA.
So when tomorrow starts without me, do not think we are far apart, for every time you think of me, I am right here, in your heart.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA
Visitation
5-7PM Friday, November 8, 2013
6PM Vigil Wake Service
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road, Monroe
Memorial Service
2PM Saturday, November 9, 2013
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Catholic Church
Monroe, LA
Bessie Nola Parrino, formerly of Monroe, LA, passed away on October 28, 2013 at her daughter’s home in Augusta, GA. A funeral mass will be held at 2 pm, Saturday, November 9th at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Monroe with Father David Richter officiating. Visitation for family and friends will be held from 5pm to 7pm on Friday, November 8th at the Mulhearn Funeral Home on Sterlington Road in Monroe. At the visitation, a celebration of her life will be given by two of her grandsons, Todd and Sean Frantom, a eulogy will be given by one of her nieces, Marilyn Nola Hammett of New Orleans, LA, and a rosary will be led by her niece, Patricia Harkins Swenson of Houston, TX. A video of Bessie’s life will be shown at the visitation and was produced by her grandsons Brian Frantom and Todd Frantom and the music for the video was compiled by family friend Belinda Schmidt Bohelke.
Bessie was born in Birmingham, AL on April 20, 1915 to Paul Nola, Sr. and Antoinette Messina Nola, the fourth of six children. Her family settled in Louisiana in the 1920’s. From a young age, she started sewing for her family and became an excellent seamstress with beautiful handwork. She also became the bookkeeper for her parent’s and her grandparent’s grocery stores at an early age. She also cooked and took care of her siblings and was known as the “glue of the family”. She was a National Merit Honor Scholar at Neville High School and graduated in 1933.
Bessie met her future husband, Frank Parrino, Sr. of Bastrop, LA, at a wedding in Monroe and they married in 1936. They had three children Frank Joseph Parrino, Jr., Barbara Jean Parrino Frantom, and Richard Paul Parrino. During WWII, Bessie and five other women started a rosary group and met once a week and prayed for the American servicemen. This rosary group continued meeting once a week until the 1980’s. Her love of her faith continued and she became active in the Catholic Daughters of America (CDA). She was elected twice to be the President of the Louisiana Chapter of the CDA. She was named Catholic Daughter of the Year of Court St. Matthew in 1979. She was on the Altar Society for the Jesus the Good Shepherd Church and she also volunteered to help the Knights of Columbus with their bingo games by keeping their books and making desserts every week for many years. Her hobbies included cooking, bridge, and gardening.
Bessie was also a Girl Scout leader and President of the Northside Garden Club. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels and became a poll worker during the elections in Monroe. Her dedication to her church, community, family and friends was a testament to her character and devotion. She loved to cook for her children and grandchildren and centered her life around her family. She will be dearly missed by those who fondly called her “Queen Mother”.
Bessie is preceded in death by her husband and two sons. She leaves behind one daughter Barbara Parrino Frantom (Augusta, GA), son-in-law Sam Frantom (Augusta, GA), three grandsons Todd Frantom (Washington, DC), Brian Frantom (Augusta, GA), and Sean Frantom (Augusta, GA), one granddaughter Andrea Parrino (San Francisco, Calif.), one great-grandson, two great-granddaughters, and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic School.
Honorary Pallbearers are Danny Nola and Carol Nasca Gershenson both of Baton Rouge, LA; Larry Nola, Jr., Jimmy Nola, Bobby Nola, David Erskine, and Bob Stratton all of Monroe, LA. Readers are Marilyn Nola Hammett (New Orleans, LA), Elaine Nola Jabbia (Beaumont, TX), Patricia Parrino (Monroe, LA), and Andrea Parrino (San Francisco, Calif.). Gift Bearers are Danna Tucker Jefferson and Pam Burgess Stratton, both of Monroe, LA.
So when tomorrow starts without me, do not think we are far apart, for every time you think of me, I am right here, in your heart.
Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.com
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road
Monroe, LA
Visitation
5-7PM Friday, November 8, 2013
6PM Vigil Wake Service
Mulhearn Funeral Home
Sterlington Road, Monroe
Memorial Service
2PM Saturday, November 9, 2013
Jesus the Good Shepherd
Catholic Church
Monroe, LA
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bessie Nola Parrino, please visit our flower store.
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