James S. DiPerri

South Boston – Jim DiPerri was known around his native South Boston and beyond as a true gentleman who greeted friends and strangers alike with a sincere smile and genuine warmth.

It was pretty easy to feel at home in his company . . . he was a man of unquestioned integrity, was never afraid of hard work and was possessed of a kind spirit . . . the sort of guy you just knew could be relied on for help if you needed it.

Mr. James S. "Jim" DiPerri died Thursday, August 4, 2016 following a period of declining health.

He was born in South Boston, a son of the late Anthony and Charlotte (Brady) DiPerri and had been a lifelong resident. On September 13, 1953 he married the love of his life, Mary T. Curran, and the couple made South Boston their lifelong home.

After high school he served with the Massachusetts National Guard's Yankee Division from 1946 to 1956. Jim worked for nearly twenty years for White Fuel Company in South Boston.

He later began a forty year career working at the Massachusetts State House, first as a court officer and worked to become the first assistant to the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Massachusetts Legislature.

As a humble son of South Boston he worked hard to support his family, including his mother who became disabled when Jim was a teenager. He was involved in his community and was on the short list of people who got the call when things needed to be done for family, a neighbor, at the yacht club or in the parish.

He was a long-time parishioner of Saint Brigid Church where he was an usher. Jim was also a lifelong trustee, chairman and past commodore of the Boston Harbor Yacht Club. He also belonged to the "Barn Boys" in South Boston, the South Boston Residents Group and the Commodore's Club of America.

He loved his family and he loved life's simplest gifts . . . waking every morning to the salt air flowing in the window and a view of Castle Island across the cool blue waters of Pleasant Bay in the distance . . . a glimpse of heaven on earth.

Jim would tell you that among his most treasured gifts were his Catholic faith that he passed on to his family . . . his beloved wife, Mary, with whom he shared a lifetime of joy . . . and his children and grandchildren of whom he was extremely proud . . . all the while trusting that God was at the helm.

He had a keen interest in history and cherished the study of Irish culture that he inherited from his mother, a native of Queenstown (Cobh), Ireland and the Italian heritage he took from his Sicilian father. He likely was the only man of part Italian ancestry in South Boston that was nearly fluent in the Gaelic language.

In addition to his wife of sixty-three years, Mary, he leaves his children, Rev. James M. DiPerri, Pastor of Our Lady's Church in Waltham, Noreen Tolosky and her husband, Mark, of Longmeadow and Mary Theresa DiPerri of South Boston and his grandchildren, Matthew and Patrick Tolosky.

Family and friends will honor and remember Jim's life by gathering for calling hours on Thursday, August 11th from 4 to 7 p.m. in Saint Brigid's Church, 845 East Broadway, South Boston and again in Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham on Friday, August 12th from 4 to 7 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will be offered at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning in Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, Waltham. Jim's son and namesake, Father Jim DiPerri will be principal celebrant. Burial will be in Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Parish, 920-R Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452 or to Saint Brigid's Parish, 845 E. Broadway, South Boston, MA 02127.

"Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam" . . . "May his soul be at the right hand of God".