Obituary of Pia Parham

I lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Pia's name to St. Jude Hospital

https://www.stjude.org/

Buongiorno.

Pia, my mom, was born in 1924 in Naples, Italy. She was the first child of Edmundo and Amelia Forno and later the sister of Ada and her brothers, Toto and Reno. Very early on, Mom developed a love for books; reading was her passion. She was intellectual and an independent thinker who lived life her own way.

One day, Mom was talking about her experiences as a young girl during the time of Mussolini. She said, "Even the young people had military rankings. Sometimes I would do what I was told and so I was high ranking. And then sometimes my ranking would fall because I would say, 'Eh!' and do what I wanted.

It was because of this independent thinking that Mom did not hesitate when she met and fell in love with my dad, "Federico," an American soldier. During the war, Mom admired Dad's warm heart. Late at night, my dad would smuggle bread to the women and children who had no food. They eventually married in 1946 and had five children: Amelia, Eddie, Marie, me and Fred. All of us were angels, of course.  Mom was educated and a school teacher, but chose to dedicate her life to her family.

Mom's greatest love was her family. And it was her greatest joy to watch her family grow as her children found the loves of their lives: Tony, Doreen, Michael, Allen and Joanie. Mom loved them all as her own.

Then came Mom's grandchildren and great-grandchildren who were of course the true bliss of her life... Melissa, Beau, Casey, Dylan, Christine, Kelsey, Cody, Lindsey, Avery, Stormi, Remi and baby Emmett. Nana loved all her grandchildren so deeply. Nana's face would light up when she heard their voices or saw their faces.

Even in Mom's final days, her concern was for those she loved. She prayed for all of us every night. I can picture Mom now, the way she would so methodically go through her nightly rituals... After washing and changing, Mom would turn on her favorite night light and climb into bed - while barely rustling the perfectly done bedding. With the prayer book of her mom in hand, she would lay her head on her pillow to close her day in prayer for all of us. The love and protection she had for us on this earth will simply continue from a better place.

Mom loved the ocean. She told me, "l go out in the ocean - beyond the waves. And the people, they tell me to come closer with their whistles. But, I ignore them. And then, when I am out far enough, I just swim. Ah..

There is an Italian poet, Carducci, who was a favorite of Mom's. In one of his poems, he writes,

"Behold how calm, how blue the ocean wide,

As therein sinks the sun with smiling gladness."

Mom, for us, you were the sun. And now the ocean is calm. And so with gratitude and love we watch you swim on, beyond the waves of suffering that are life here on this earth, and we are at peace knowing that now for you there is nothing but smiling and gladness.

Ti Vogliamo Bene. We love you! xo