Sylvina Ann “Luce” Maceo Parigi, 88, passed away peacefully at her home August 3, 2012, after a lengthy illness. Sylvina known as “Luce” to many was born in Galveston, Texas on April 18, 1924, to Rosario Charles and Josephine Fertitta Maceo, and lived on the Island before making Beaumont her permanent home. Luce was the second of four daughters.
Luce was a devoted wife of forty-four years to Sam, and a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She will be remembered for her love of faith, family, friends, and food! Luce was an active member of St. Anne Catholic Church for many, many years and loved her friends in the St. Anne community especially the faithful members of the 6:30 a.m. Mass. She was a daily Adorer in the St. Anne Adoration Chapel and enjoyed her years of service and her friendships in the St. Anne Ladies. Luce was always in the kitchen and shared her many delicious dishes with family and friends. She will be remembered for her amazing cheesecake and twisted biscotti cookies. Luce loved a good joke and shared her contagious smile to the very end. She was appropriately nicknamed Luce which means light and she will always remain the light of our lives.
Luce is survived by her children, Joe S. Parigi and his wife, Peggy; Rosario “R.C.” Parigi; Sam C. Parigi, Jr. and his wife, Lisa; Gerard M. Parigi and his wife, Cheri; and Connie P. Prewitt and her husband, Milt, all of Beaumont; grandchildren, Lauri P. Welch and her husband, Tom, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Travis M. Parigi and his wife, Melissa, of Houston; Alison P. Edwards and her husband, Dustin, of Houston; Cara P. Summers and her husband, Mike, of Jacksonville, North Carolina; Amy Parigi of Houston; Courtney P. Parent and her husband, Michael, of Columbia, South Carolina; Sam G. Parigi and his wife, Joanna, of Austin; Patrick Parigi of Honolulu, Hawaii; Douglas, Lucy, and Nick Prewitt, all of Beaumont; great-grandchildren, Sean, Rosalia, and Mattie Edwards, Sam Maceo Summers, Reid and Lauren Parigi, and League Louis Parent; sisters, Concetta Tortorice and her husband, Jake; Olivia “Dimples” Messina; and Theresa Giglio and her husband, J.C.; sisters-in-law, Josephine Drago and Frances Fontana, both of Port Arthur, Rose Rinando and Imogene “Gigi” Parigi, both of Beaumont, Annie Coco of Sour Lake, and Sara Marino of Houston; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Sam C. Parigi, Sr.; and daughter, Concetta Geraldine Parigi.
A Family Rosary for Luce will be recited at 4:30 p.m., Sunday, August 5, 2012, at Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, with a Christian Vigil to follow at 6:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m., Monday, August 6, 2012, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder, with interment to follow at Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont.
Luce’s family would like to extend their appreciation most especially to Luce’s “Filipino daughter” and selfless caregiver, Celia Tabien, and to all her loving caregivers, Dory Cruz, Mildred Valdez, Kathy Simien, Maricela Loredo and Olga Rojo. Special thanks also go to her nephew, Dr. Alfred Brady and Dr. Ronald Palang and his nurse, Rose Ukoh, for taking such good care of Luce over the years; and to all the excellent and caring professionals from Harbor Hospice, Ina Messina, Lorri Robertson, Angela Simmons and Louis Hebert. We would also like to express our gratitude to Reverend Monsignor Michael Jamail, Reverend Monsignor William Manger, Reverend Rodel Faller and the St. Anne Catholic Church community for their prayers and support throughout the years.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anne Catholic Church, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77702, or to St. Katherine Drexel Humanitarian Fund, 2715 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77702.
