Philip J. DePasquale, 89, Warren

Father, grandfather, brother and husband led a full, varied life

Posted 10/22/18

Philip J. DePasquale, 89, husband, father, brother and grandfather, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Grace Barker Nursing Center in Warren, with family at his side.  “Phil” …

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Philip J. DePasquale, 89, Warren

Father, grandfather, brother and husband led a full, varied life

Posted

Philip J. DePasquale, 89, husband, father, brother and grandfather, passed away peacefully Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Grace Barker Nursing Center in Warren, with family at his side.  “Phil” was the husband of the late Margherita C. (Vitullo) DePasquale. In a lifetime of hard work and unwavering family commitment, he and Margherita raised seven children, traveled extensively, and endlessly enjoyed the simple pleasures of hometown living.

Born in Bristol, Philip was the son of the late Salvatore and Filomena (Scolaro) DePasquale. 

As a graduate from Bristol’s Colt Memorial High School, Philip began a dedicated life to various professions. He was a reservist in the Army National Guard; a graduate of Chicago’s National College of Chiropractic, and during the mid-1950’s, Philip divided his time between his chiropractic profession and a job as an “oiler” on a dredge off the coast of Long Island. In the early 1960s, Philip studied orthopedic shoe repair in Lynn, Massachusetts and opened a cobbler shop, Phil’s Shoe Service, in Warren’s north end. Always a steadfast provider, Philip often added a second shift in several East Bay factories where he worked including Carr’s Manufacturing, Kaiser Aluminum and, finally, retiring from Lloyd’s Manufacturing in 1994.

Always included in Philip’s daily prayers were his predeceased siblings: baby Catherine, Nancy Belsito, and Stephen, as well as his granddaughter, Bethany DePasquale. He was surprisingly greeted in heaven by his recently deceased grandson, Matthew DePasquale. 

Phil is survived by his “kid sister,” Carmela “Millie” Vacarro and her husband Francis; his seven children: Philip De Pasquale and his wife Virginia of Warren, John De Pasquale of Idaho, Paul De Pasquale of New York, Mary De Pasquale of North Kingstown, Michael De Pasquale and his wife Barbara of Idaho, Maria Latta and her husband Edward of Plymouth, MA and Joseph De Pasquale of Warren. Phil’s legacy continues in nine grandchildren: Peter, Michael, Gregory, Tonisha, Christian, Tessa, Shaylin, Santino, Dominic; three step grandchildren, Jeremy, Ashley and Kyle; three great grandchildren, Layla, Ryder and Rowan; daughter-in-law, Diane DePasquale of Pascoag and many, nieces and nephews. 

To say Philip John De Pasquale lived a multi-faceted life would be an understatement. His children will always remember him as a man of multiple intense, often contradictory, passions. He was often the center of large family gatherings, yet would just as often take long, solitary walks. He was entirely committed to his large family, yet, this very commitment frequently kept him from it. For much of his life, he worked sixteen hours a day, six days a week. Because of this grueling regime, the fruits of his labor not only secured his family, but also were generously extended to many family friends at ample Sunday dinners, large sumptuous holiday meals and special occasion parties. During numerous “mystery rides” and Sunday family outings, with children’s friends adding to the numbers, the “gallivanting” could be as simple as feeding the ducks at Foxy’s pond, getting a cone at Grey’s Ice Cream or ice skating. More elaborate were a full day’s excursion to Newport, Lincoln Park or Edaville Railroad and the surrounding cranberry bogs at harvest time.

When Philip finally retired, “Phil and Maggie” became enthusiastic members of the Royal Travelers Club extensively touring the USA, Italy and the tropics. He was constantly fascinated and always amazed by Mother Nature’s beauty visiting many National Parks, the mountains of Sun Valley, Idaho, and beaches of Florida and Aruba. However, Philip’s favorite place to visit with his family or in the solitude of his later years, was Colt State Park. He was endlessly fascinated with Narragansett Bay: the tides, the boats, the waves, the birds and the ever-recurring, peaceful sunsets.

His Funeral will be held on Friday, October 26, 2018 at 9:00 AM from the Wilbur-Romano Funeral Home, 615 Main Street, Warren, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 AM in St. Alexander’s Church, 221 Main Street, Warren. Visiting hours, Thursday 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Burial will be in St. Alexander’s Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the memorial bench fund of the Warren Town Beach, where Phil and Maggie courted at Warren Memorial Bench Fund, In care of Philip DePasquale, Warren Recreation Program, 790 Main St., Warren RI, 02885.

For tributes and directions, www.wilbur-romano.com

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