Clearwater, Florida — The daughter of William Strople and Ellen (Maxwell) Strople. Gert was the fourth of five girls. Living sisters are, Mary Strople of Rockport, Ellen Nelson of Gloucester, Catherine Walch of Swampscot, and Florence Pate of N.H.
Gertrude attended St. Ann’s School in Gloucester, graduating as 1953’s Class Valedictorian. She became a Medical Laboratory Technician at the Boston Medical Dispensary. Later, she attended St. Petersburg Jr. College and the University of South Florida in Tampa, earning a BA in American Studies.
October 2, 2012 Gertrude and her beloved James R. Parady celebrated 58 years of marriage. The couple began their family in Rockport, lived in Middle River, MD, Huntsville, AL, Clinton Township, MI and finally settled in Clearwater, FL in 1963.
Gertrude and James’ ten children are Nancy A. Hunter of Scottsdale, Ariz., James R. Parady, Jr. (deceased), Jean E. Rau (husband Peter Rau) of Clearwater, William A. Parady (wife Salome Zikakis) Ft. Lauderdale, Mary Jo Weaver (husband Glenn Weaver) Seminole, Michael R. Parady (deceased), David G. Parady, Dunedin, Carolyn M. Osborne (husband Eric “Jim” Osborne) Lutz, Fla., Christopher J. Parady (wife Michelle Parady) Tulsa, Okla., and Eileen M. Allaster (husband Sean Allaster) of Tarpon Springs.
The couple’s 20 grandchildren; Nancy Hunter’s three children, Stephen Hunter U.S. Air Force (wife Stephanie) Surprise, Ariz., Christina Schanta of The Woodlands, Texas, Sarah Hunter of Scottsdale, Ariz.; Jean and Pete Rau’s four children, Andrew Rau (wife Jane), St. Petersburg, Fla., Cameron Rau U.S. Air Force (wife Amanda), Alaska, Lisa Rau and Eric Rau of Clearwater; Bill and Salome’s two sons, John Parady, Gainesville, Fla. and Alexander Parady, Ft. Lauderdale; Mary Jo Weaver’s son, Randy Fox (wife Rockelle) U.S. Coast Guard in Calif.; David Parady’s three children, Amanda, Caitlin and Kyle Parady of Clearwater; Carolyn and Jim’s three children James, Jennifer, and Madeline Osborne of Lutz, Fla.; Chris and Michelle’s Brandan Parady, Tulsa, Okla.; and Eileen and Sean Allaster’s three children, Christopher, Joseph, and Ashley Allaster.
12 great-grandchildren include; Stephen and Stephanie’s three children, Scarlett, Violet, and Mason Hunter; Christina Schanta’s daughters, Sera and Julia; Cameron and Amanda Rau’s children, Benjamin and Kairi; Randy and Rockelle Fox’s three children, Ashton, Lila, and Sierra; Amanda Parady’s daughter, Celeste; and Caitlin Parady’s son Noah.
Gertrude loved her family, friends, travel, music, and prayer. Primarily a wife, mother, and homemaker Gert loved playing the violin in symphony orchestras. Among her favorites were the Cape Ann Symphony in Gloucester, the Mount Clemons Symphony, Michigan, the Clearwater Symphony, later the Sun Coast Symphony, the St. Petersburg Symphony and, most recently, the Tampa Bay Symphony for 25 years.
ARRANGEMENTS: Visitation will be held 5–8 p.m. Thursday, November 15, 2012 at Moss Feaster Funeral Home, Belcher Road, Clearwater with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. led by Gertrude’s favorite Msgr. Patrick Irwin. A celebration of life mass will be held for Gertrude 1 p.m. Friday, November 16, St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church, Clearwater followed by a graveside prayer at Calvary Catholic Cemetery US Highway 19 & 118th Avenue, Clearwater.
