LOVING tributes have been offered to a popular figure in Conwy who ran his own successful ice cream business following his death.
Joe Parisella, of Parisella’s Ice Cream, died peacefully at his home aged 89 on March 30.
His family have celebrated the life of a man who they described as their “rock” and “inspiration”.
He is survived by his partner, Annette; his children, Tony, Carrie, Anna and Emma; and his grandchildren.
Joe was born in Northumberland, where his parents had met, and brought up near Berwick-upon-Tweed.
His family moved to North Wales after the Second World War, with Joe attending Ysgol John Bright in Llandudno.
He then began training as an accountant, though was called into family business in roughly the early 1960s.
Joe met his wife, Gwyneth, after Parisella’s opened its ice cream parlour in Lancaster Square, as she worked in Boots next door. They married in 1961.
By the early 1970s, he had taken charge of the business, which grew greatly under his leadership throughout decade.
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His son, Tony, who still works in the family business, said: “He guided us through in the ‘80s, when it was more a question of surviving.
“In the early 90s, I came into the business, and we ticked over nicely, and in the 2000s, we moved into new ice creams with many different varieties. The business went from strength to strength.
“We recently moved to a new 5,500 square feet premises on the outskirts of Conwy, which he came down in the car to have a good look around at.
“It was almost as if he was saying: ‘My work is done now’. He loved being in the centre of Conwy, in Lancaster Square. Even though he was originally from up north, he was a Conwy boy through and through.”
Tony also recalled happy memories with his late father, such as holidays abroad and trips to the pub together.
He added: “He was known throughout a lot of North Wales, way back from his days as an ice cream man.
“The amount of people who have said they remember him coming round in Llanrwst, in Holyhead… it’s quite awe-inspiring how many people knew him; he got busier and busier every summer.
“His staff always remembered dad as a fair boss who looked after them. Dad was a numbers man, he was a businessman through and through. We bounced off each other; he taught me a lot.
“He was a typical gentlemen of that era; he liked his big cigars, and going to boxing matches, and we were both big Liverpool fans.
“He was a very welcoming man who would always look after you. If people came to see him, he’d always be talking to them for hours.
“I’d go out for a pint with him on a Sunday, and I have great memories of our first holiday, when he drove through Portugal to take us to the Algarve in his brand new Ford Capri.
“It was just idyllic – diving in the swimming pool, hearing the cicadas at night time… carefree, happy times.
“My last holiday with him was a cruise to the Holy Land. We did quite a few cruises in the late ‘70s.”
Other members of the Parisella family also paid tribute to Joe following his death.
His daughter, Carrie, who re-opened Tu Hwnt I'r Bont Tearooms in March, said her father “has always been my rock and my inspiration in business, and taught me everything I know.”
Joe’s granddaughter, Gemma, told of happy memories of her “gan-gan”.
She added: “I remember being a young girl, and while my family were all working and it was the summer holidays, I would go in the ice cream van with my ‘gan-gan’ during the summer holidays to Caernarfon.
“I would pack a little bag with a colouring book and some toys, and he would give me £2 to get chips and go crabbing while he was busy serving on the van.
“I would spend most of my holidays with him; memories I will cherish forever. I will miss him terribly.”
Another of his granddaughters, Chloe, remembered his fondness of her dog, Marnie, a Dachshund who he “loved watching play and run around his house”.
Joe’s funeral will take place at Most Holy Family Catholic Church, Llandudno Junction at 1pm on Monday, April 17.
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