Obituary of John G. Parker Sr.

John “Jack” Parker Sr. passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 18, 2023. Jack was a son, brother, father, and loving husband of his wife of 58 years, Felicia DeProspero Parker. Born in Utica NY on August 11, 1928, to Emma Vaeth Parker and Samuel Parker, Jack graduated from Whitesboro Central School where he made several lifelong friendships.    

A proud veteran, Jack served with the U.S. Army as a tank driver during the Korean War, receiving the Korean Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star and achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant.  Jack was united in marriage to Felicia DeProspero on October 16, 1954, in St. John the Baptist Church, Rome.

Whether he was at work or at home, Jack loved building and fixing things.  In 1959, he bought land in the Town of Westmoreland and built a beautiful family home.  Doing the work by himself on evenings and weekends, he devoted six years of his life to constructing a house for his family.

He became a master machinist for Rome Cable and Revere Copper and Brass in Rome NY, retiring in 1989.  For a time, he was also an official at Vernon Downs. He was a member of St. John the Baptist Church, HP Smith Post #24 American Legion, Toccolana Club, the former St. John’s Men’s Club, and a volunteer handyman for Rome Community Theater.  

He enjoyed being with his three kids, five grandchildren and two great granddaughters who called him their “Pops”.  But Jack’s favorite fun was sitting down with friends and family      playing cards, especially Pitch.

His partner in life, Felicia, sadly fell ill with dementia in her late 60’s. Jack cared for her for eight years at home then visited her daily for eight more years while she was in Rome Memorial Hospital’s Extended Care Facility. Besides keeping her company, he volunteered for social events and excursions, made pizzelles with others for the whole hospital, and in good weather walked all over north Rome pushing her in a wheelchair.  He was honored by the facility with a Certificate of Appreciation for his service in 2013.

Jack spent the last five years living with Lynne Parker Davis in Marietta GA, John Parker Jr in Rome NY, and Dean Parker in Apex NC.  During COVID-19, he took to sitting on a busy suburban Marietta corner and waving hello to passersby.  His friendliness added joy to many people’s lives at a time when person-to-person interaction was scarce. He became a neighborhood treasure.           

Jack was fun-loving, a gentleman, a die-hard Yankee fan, a funny-hat wearer, an usher at St. John the Baptist Church, a proud father who sent three kids through college, and a man who lit up every room he entered.  He never met a stranger and he will be missed.

Jack is survived by his daughter, Lynne (Joseph) Davis, Marietta, GA, two sons, John (Sharon) Parker, Jr., Rome, NY, Dean (Nancy) Parker, Apex, NC, grandchildren, Barrett (Catherine) Davis, Anthony, Maria, Olivia and Sophia Parker and great-granddaughters, Carson Davis and Avery Parker Davis. He also has eight nieces and nephews scattered across the US and was loved by the Schuler family as the family elder for decades. He was predeceased by a brother, Donald Parker. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, May 26, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., at St. John the Baptist Church, 210 E. Dominick St., Rome, NY, with the Rev. Paul F. Angelicchio officiating. Burial with full Military Honors will be in St. John the Baptist Cemetery.  Calling hours will be held on Thursday May 25, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. at the Nicholas J. Bush Funeral Home, Inc., 7751 Merrick Rd., Rome, NY.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to: Alzheimer’s Association, Central New York Chapter, 5015 Campuswood Dr., Suite 102, East Syracuse, NY 13507 or online: https://alz.org/centralnewyork.

To offer online condolences, please visit www.njbushfuneralhome.com.