Jean Ernest Parolin

PAROLIN, Jean Ernest of Princeton passed away on August 4, 2019 at the age of 84. Jean will be lovingly remembered and sadly missed by his wife Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Parolin (neé Fripp), sons Leslie John Carlo Parolin and Thomas Ernest ‘Ernie’ Parolin, grandchildren David, Melissa, William, Steven, Jaclyn, and Shanna Parolin, great-grandchildren Jared and Emily Braun, Brother Jackie, sisters Pieretta and Jeannie, as well as many, many nieces, nephews, and cousins in North America and Europe.

Jean was born November 2, 1934 in Duras, France to John Carlo Parolin and Ernesta Parolin (neé Bortolin). He was a ‘yellow baby’ or jaundiced and 3 months premature. When taken home he slept in a shoe box wrapped in cotton batten in the warming oven. As he grew bigger he migrated from the top of his mom’s dresser drawer to the bottom one.

Raised on a small farm in France during the Second World War, and with the uncertainty in Europe that followed, Jean and his sister Jeannie were sent to Canada in June 1950 to live with their uncle and aunt in Langley, BC. for a more secure and better life. He was 15 years old at the time and attended night school to learn how to speak, read, and write English.

Following school, Jean went to the Yukon and worked on dredges in gold mining. Following that, Jean returned to the coast and worked in the lumber industry with Alaska Pine. On one particular day there, Jean was in line behind other men and happened to notice the name Parolin on an envelope sticking out of another man’s back pocket. Jean struck up a conversation and asked the fellow. It turned out to be his cousin Frank Parolin who had also been sent to Canada years earlier. They remained very close until Cousin Frank’s passing.

In September of 1954 Jean met a lovely young nurse named Trudy. From that moment Jean was fully determined to, and finally married on August 23, 1958. They continued to reside in Port Moody until the fall of 1962. With 2 young sons they packed up and moved to Rabbitt Mountain above Tulameen, BC to take over the ranch from Trudy’s parents, Les and Nora Fripp.

Jean and Trudy built a home and raised their family on the ranch while at the same time to ensure proper provision, Jean worked at Weyerhauser sawmill in Princeton for 25 years. Jean took early retirement to concentrate on the ranch and start enjoying his grandchildren.

In 2005 Jean was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. He fought this painful and life altering disease until the morning he passed away.

The family would like to sincerely thank all of the doctors, nurses, and care workers at both Princeton General Hospital and Ridgewood Lodge where Jean resided with many lifelong friends. Jean was a husband, a father, a brother, a mentor, and a caring and joyful man. He will be missed by his family and many others. There’s no more pain, no more suffering. You’re simply at rest now Jean.

There will be a Memorial Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Princeton on Thursday, August 15, 2019 at 10:30 am with interment to follow at Rabbitt Cemetery in Tulameen. In lieu of flowers Jean’s wish would be a kind donation to Parkinson Canada or the Parkinson’s Society of BC. Condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.hansonsfuneral.ca .