Lawrence Parretti

Major Lawrence Parretti USMC (ret), 87 of Worcester passed away peacefully Wednesday December 2nd 2015 with the family he loved gathered at his bedside.    Larry was born in Worcester, one of five sons of Italian immigrants Nicholas and Mary (DiLeo) Parretti.  He graduated from Commerce High School and joined the Marine Corps during the latter part of World War II.   Realizing he enjoyed the Marines; Lawrence decided to make it a career.  He began as a Private in 1946, and notably became one of the very few enlisted men to rise through the enlisted ranks to Sergeant Major, the highest enlisted rank in less than six years.   The Corps recognizing this promoted him to the Officer corps as a 2nd lieutenant and thirty years later on October 1st 1976 retired from the Marine Corps with the rank of Major, having served his country proudly during three Wars, WW II, Korea and Vietnam.  He returned home to Worcester where he has lived in the neighborhood he grew up in ever since.   After retirement, Lawrence, accepted a position with Quinsigamond Community College, many days walking from his neighborhood to the campus where he served as Athletic Director and Director of Foreign Affairs for 4 years before retiring from the College.   Larry in 1952, six years after he joined the Marines, married the ‘Love of His Life” Jeanne A. Herbeck, who lovingly and dedicatedly supported her husband, raised their family and followed her military soldier from station to station until retirement and to this day, 63 years later. Lawrence is survived by his devoted wife Jeanne; his two sons, Lawrence A. “Nick” Parretti Jr and his wife, Nancy Allen of Willistown Penn, Stephen “Mark”  Parretti and his wife Vera of Linden Virginia; three brothers, Robert, William and Richard Parretti, all neighbors in the “Parretti Compound” of Worcester; a grandson Christopher Parretti; nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends throughout the world.  Besides his parents, Lawrence was pre deceased by a brother Vincent. A true, military soldier, Lawrence became a member of several area organizations, The U.S. Marine Corps Association, the Worcester Detachment of the Marine Corps League, the Eastside Post 201, American legion and the Disabled American Post Chapter #4 in Worcester.  He was also a founding member and regular church attendee and volunteer of Our Lady of the Rosary church.   Larry truly believed that “God, Country, family, and the Corps were the most important things in his life.  He had room in his heart for everyone he met.  He was very generous with his love, time and resources, and helped anyone he could.   His unwavering faith and training kept him grounded and helped him through life's challenges.   His passing leaves a hole in our hearts but his  loving and caring soul will not be forgotten.   “Semper Fidelis”  always loyal   Friends and relatives are invited to visit with the Parretti family during calling hours Sunday, December 6th from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm in the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St.   His funeral will be held Monday, December 7th, (Pearl Harbor Day) a day he proudly held dear, from the funeral home with a procession to Our Lady of Rosary Church, 35 Fales Street. Where his Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am.   Burial with Full Marine Corps honors will follow at Arlington National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, memorial remembrances in his name can be made to the  Marine Corps Association and Foundation,  715 Broadway St, Quantico, VA 22134, or the Joslin Diabetes Clinic, 1 Joslin Place, Boston Mass.  The Parretti family would like thank Lawrence’s caregivers, Lynn Mojica and Suzie Turner for the care, comfort and compassion they gave to him during a difficult time.