Tributes 2009-02-23

Orlando “O.T,”

“Orley” DiLullo

LIBERTY TWP. – Orlando T. DiLullo, who spent nearly 45 years serving the Mahoning Valley in various law enforcement positions, died Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, from complications of dementia and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

The son of Gaetano DiLullo and Irene DiCapita, DiLullo was born in the Smokey Hollow neighborhood of Youngstown at the beginning of the Great Depression.

As the youngest child in his family, he began working various odd jobs at an early age to help bring money home. His early jobs included being a pin setter at a bowling alley, a newsstand boy and a dishwasher, while simultaneously attending The Rayen School.

His love and respect for his mother and father was great, and he recounted over the years, with great pride, his ability to bring home a pitcher of beer for his father’s dinner after work.

DiLullo joined the Army and served in active duty in Korea, from 1951 to 1953, with the 6th Armed Division.

After the war, he returned to Youngstown and resumed his job as bartender for his Uncle Jim Massullo at the Avalon Gardens Bar on Belmont Ave.

In 1957, he was sworn in by Sheriff Ray T. Davis as a Mahoning County Sheriff’s Deputy. He was involved in many high-profile cases while serving as Captain of the Sheriff’s Department from 1960 to 1971.

In 1971, DiLullo was hired as Agent in Charge of the MAT Narcotics Strike Force Unit, which was a statewide organization during the formative years of the DEA in the United States. DiLullo managed nearly 50 street level special agents in a four county area that focused on drug traffickers and illegal drug trafficking until 1977.

In 1980, he became Chief of Police of Liberty Township, where he retired in 1990.

Even in retirement, DiLullo maintained work as a Drug Agent for the Trumbull County Prosecutors Office from 1990 to 1999.

He was the first Co-Commander of the Ohio Peace Officers Training Council in 1966, and was a charter member of the Ohio NARCO organization in 1971, where he served as President in 1973. He was also a member of the Youngstown Crime Clinic, where he served as President from 1964 to 1966 and a member of the Mahoning Valley Police Chiefs Association and the Ohio Police Chiefs Association.

DiLullo was a member of the Golden Eagles, VFW Post 3538, and the Smokey Hollow group.

DiLullo is survived by the mother of his twin sons, Eleanor DiLullo of Girard; and his sons, Guy DiLullo of Cleveland and Vito DiLullo of Portland, Ore.; three grandchildren, Kayleigh Sevi of Huntington Beach, Calif., and Louis DiLullo and Alaska DiLullo, both of Cleveland; and a niece, Doctor Donna DeBlasio of Boardman.

Besides his parents; he was preceded in death by two sisters, Clotilda M. DeBlasio and Jean DiLullo; and three brothers, Joseph DiLullo I, Joseph DiLullo II and Alfonso DiLullo.

Funeral prayers will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 at the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home in Boardman followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church with Celebrant Rev. Msgr. John Zuraw.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. tonight at the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave. in Boardman.

Martha J. Parrilla, 87

YOUNGSTOWN – A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009, at the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home in Boardman at noon for Martha Parrilla, who passed away Saturday morning, Feb. 21.

Martha was born Nov. 26, 1921, in Cleveland, the daughter of Samuel and Alma B. (Powell) Lehman.

She graduated from North High School in Columbus.

Martha won the Miss Venus Beauty Pageant in 1945. She was a waitress, retiring from the Golden Dawn restaurant, where she made many friends.

Martha also was a mother and homemaker. She belonged to the Senior Citizens of Brownlee Woods Presbyterian Church and was very active in AA, which was very near and dear to her heart.

She loved to socialize, especially with her friends at AA.

Her husband Patsy Parrilla, whom she married in November of 1951, passed away June 17, 1993.

Martha will always be remembered by her three sons, Vincent J. of Austin, Texas, Michael P. (Kathy) of Youngstown and John T. of Poland; and three grandchildren, Michael A., Caitlin and Ciana Parrilla.

Besides her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Helen Miller.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday at the Rossi Brothers & Lellio Funeral Home, 4442 South Ave. in Boardman.

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Terezia Soos, 99

AJKA, HUNGARY – Terezia Soos, 99, died peacefully in her sleep Feb. 10 at her residence.

Terezia was born Sept. 21, 1909, in Pusztaederics, Hungary, a daughter of Jozsef and Eleonora (Szabo) Poczak. She married Lajos Soos on Feb. 24, 1930, and was a lifelong resident of Hungary.

She was a homemaker who helped with the responsibilities of the family’s farm. She and her family survived decades of Communist oppression.

Terezia had an abiding love of reading and, well into her 90s, impressed others with her ability to keep up with local and international events and world politics.

She enjoyed entertaining guests and was known for her cheerful demeanor and her warm and engaging personality.

Her pride and joy was her large family on two continents. She could name every child and adult in the scores of family photos she collected through the years – even those she had never met – and she could recount stories about each of them. Her family in Youngstown brought her to the area for an extended visit in 1979. She hoped to return but an ongoing medical condition made it impossible.

Her secret to a long life seemed to be her strong Catholic faith and her ability to look beyond life’s difficult circumstances with a hopeful and generous heart. She believed in staying active. In her mid-90s, she could be found on warm summer days picking fruit from the trees at the nursing home where she resided, to add a little snack to the lunches of her friends there. She was admired by all who knew her and was easy to love.

Terezia will be deeply missed by son Frank (Elaine) of Hubbard; four children in Hungary, Terezia (Sandor) Szucs, Peter (Eva), Tibor (Erzsebet) and Maria; two sisters in Hungary, Julia Horvat and Gizela Tamas; 27 grandchildren, including, in the United States, Frank (Sharon) of Youngstown, Rita (Lee) Pupio of Youngstown, David of Washingtonville, Erin of Warren and Teresa of Hubbard; 46 great-grandchildren, including in greater Youngstown, Chastity Santana, Jaimasena Soos, Franchesca Soos, Dallas Soos, Kayla Pupio, Dustin Soos, Jordan Jackson, Barbara Jackson and Leina Pagan; and six great-great-grandchildren in Hungary.

Terezia was preceded in death by family members in Hungary, including her husband, in 1967; their infant children, Ferenc and Terezia; and sons, Lajos, Kalman and Jozsef; her brothers, Jozsef, Peter, Janos, Kalman and Geza; her sister, Erzsebet Gergaly; grandson, Lajos Soos; and great-grandson, Balazs Fulop.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Feb. 13 in Jezus Szive (Sacred Heart of Jesus) Catholic Church, Ajka.

A Memorial Mass will be offered at 11 a.m. Feb. 28, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Hubbard.

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