Deacon John Noel ParrishMINT HILL — Deacon John Noel Parrish, 77, formerly of Cresson, Pa., went to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at his home in Mint Hill.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated June 10, 2015, at his home parish of St. John Neumann Church in Charlotte, with Father Patrick Hoare, pastor, presiding. Interment followed at Sunset Memory Gardens.
Deacon Parrish was born July 16, 1937, the son of Paul and Dorothy (Noel) Parrish. He was formerly employed as a store manager for the A&P grocery store, as a Maryland parole and probation officer, and as the facilities manager for St. John Neumann Church.
He was a permanent deacon for 33 years, having been ordained on July 29, 1983, for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He served at Resurrection of Our Lord Church in Laurel, Md., until he moved to North Carolina. He was granted faculties for diaconal ministry and assigned to St. John Neumann Church in January 2004.
Besides his work as facilities manager, Deacon Parrish was fully involved in ministry in every way: visiting the sick of the parish, youth ministry, sacramental preparation, Bible study, homiletics and parish devotions.
In his homily, Father Hoare said, “Here at the parish he was the Rock of Gibraltar, and to his children and grandchildren he was Superman.”
Deacon Parrish retired from active service in January 2012.
He loved caring for his wild birds, was an avid gardener, and was a jack-of-all-trades handyman. He always had a story to tell with a quick-witted sense of humor. He had a deep devotion to his Catholic faith, was patriarch of the family, was a role model for all, and was always willing to lend a hand and putting others’ needs before his own.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his uncle and aunt, Joseph and Stella Parrish; and his two brothers, Thomas and Joseph Parrish; as well as many other aunts, uncles and cousins.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Pauline (Ivory) Parrish; his four daughters, Bonnie Seasely (husband Kevin), Reba Thoreson (husband Jeff), Janice Pietrowski (husband Walt), and Kim Butler (husband Lee); his son, Ronald Parrish; his sister, Paula Mitchell; and his 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family would like to thank the staff of the Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region for the loving care provided to their husband and father.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John Neumann Church’s Facilities Fund; Hospice & Palliative Care, Charlotte Region; or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation.
Father Joseph John WatersHIGH POINT — Father Joseph John Waters, a retired priest of the Diocese of Charlotte, died Feb. 18, 2015.
The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Feb. 23, 2015, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in High Point. Interment was at Gilmore Memorial Park in Julian.
Known as "Padre José" by the Hispanic people whom he served for more than three decades, Father Waters was a pioneer of Hispanic ministry in the Charlotte diocese. He devoted much of his long ministry as a priest to serving Spanish-speaking Catholics in Central America, South America and North Carolina. He served for 13 years as a missionary in Mexico and Peru, was director of the Hispanic Catholic Center in Charlotte, and served as director of migrant ministry for the Diocese of Charlotte.
He was born 22 May, 1926, in Bristol, Pa., and spent most of his childhood in Arlington, N.Y., and Westfield, N.J. His father's job transfer brought the family to North Carolina in 1946, about the time the future priest began his studies at St. Charles College, Catonsville, Md. He completed his studies for the priesthood at St. John Seminary, Little Rock, Ark., and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Vincent S. Waters on May 24, 1956, at Immaculate Conception Church in Durham.
After one year with the Missionary Father Apostolate at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Newton Grove, Father Waters become an assistant at St. Anne, Edenton, with summer service in the apostolate's outdoor missions. From March 1959 until February 1962, he served as administrator of the missions at Plymouth, Williamston and Columbia. He spent the next four years as pastor of St. Thérèse Church in Mooresville. In July 1966, Bishop Waters sent Father Waters to Mexico City, where he served for eight years at a mission operated by the Diocese of Raleigh. Upon his return to North Carolina in 1974, Father Waters became a priest of the Diocese of Charlotte, which had been established while he was in Mexico. After two months as administrator of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton, he took up residence at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Charlotte, and became director of the Hispanic Catholic Center, a post he held until September 1977.
He also worked with Catholic Social Services to establish Natural Family Planning centers around the diocese before becoming pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Charlotte in May 1975. He was to have become rector of St. Patrick Cathedral in Charlotte in September 1977, but was loaned to the Society of Saint James for service as a missionary in Peru. He returned from Peru in September 1982. After a three-month sabbatical leave for study at St. Patrick Seminary, Menlo Park, Calif., Father Waters become pastor of St. Philip the Apostle Church in Statesville, and director of migrant ministry in January 1983 with residence at Holy Trinity Mission in Taylorsville, with responsibility for operating the mission church. In March 1985, he assumed additional duties as a member of the Diocesan Seminarian Formation committee.
At his request, Father Waters retired in June 2001, but continued to serve the people of the diocese, especially the Spanish-speaking members of the community.
He is survived by two brothers, Albert Waters and wife Shirley of Greensboro, and Robert "Bob" Waters and wife Donna of Aiken, S.C.; a sister, Rosemary Waters Pagura and husband Frank of Elk Grove, Ill.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Condolences may be sent to his sister Rosemary Pagura, 944 Wisconsin Lane, Elk Grove, Village, Ill. 60007.
Cumby Family Funeral Service of High Point was in charge of the arrangements.
— Catholic News Herald