Paul Louis Mazade

Paul Louis Mazade

March 1, 1930 – October 11, 2024

Paul Louis Mazade was born in Detroit, Mi in 1930 to Mary Ferrari and Auguste L. Mazade. His parents soon separated, and he and his mother moved to live with my grandmother, Catherine Ferrari Trunzo, in New Eagle, Pa., along with her large family.

Paul and his mother moved to New York in 1936 where she had a job with the NY State Social System. Paul stayed in a foster home for 3 years until his mother married Henry Sikorski. Paul graduated from Haverstraw High School in 1947 as a Salutatorian. Paul was truly fortunate to have a half-brother, Victor Mazade, and half-sister Victoria (Sikorski) Jennings, during the 40’s.

Paul later moved to Ferndale, MI to live with his dad and stepmother, Verna, and attend the University of Detroit, a Jesuit University. He graduated in 1951, Cum Laude, with bachelor’s degree in political science and took many Engineering courses. Paul played Varsity Baseball for 2 years, cementing his love for the sport. At the U of D, he learned how to think critically, to take responsibility, to establish goals and about the importance of making good choices. He developed strong Christian-Judeo values and recognized the need to control human nature to be a good, happy, and productive person.

Paul met Virginia Jendrusch in 1950. He enlisted in the US Naval Reserve in 1951 during the Korean War and was stationed at the Great Lakes Naval Base in IL, and eventually moved to Newport, RI. He attended Officers School and graduated in July 1952 as Ensign. Paul married Ginny on July 29, 1952, at St. Mary Magdalen Church in Hazel Park, MI. He spent his entire naval career in the San Diego-Long Beach area on an Amphibious Staff assignment. Paul also served on a 10-month tour in Asia aboard the USS Cavalier. He was discharged in 1955 as Lt JG, and eventually promoted to Lieutenant in the US Naval Reserve. Paul was especially proud and very happy to join Honor Flight Arizona in April, 2018, for a trip to Washington, D.C. with other men and women veterans of WWII and the Korean War.

Paul and Ginny returned to Michigan, and he started a 30-year career with Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln Mercury Division, where he held various Sales and Marketing Executive positions. They retired to Florida, and eventually moved to Arizona in 1994. In retirement, Paul kept busy as a Ford Used Car consultant, was an active volunteer, played golf, and enjoyed life as his family grew. His kids, Paula, Steve, Glenn, Barry, and Eric, were gifts given to him and Ginny by God. Paul and his family lived an active life with family, spending a lot of time with the Jendrusch, Trunzo, Sikorski, Ensch and Jennings families and close friends, going on camping trips, playing golf and other sports, softball, weddings, and reunions. He considered these times with family as some of the best and happiest of times.

Paul welcomed in-laws into the family and was proud of their success and the job they did raising their children. His prayer is that God will bless and protect them so they will experience full, happy and productive lives.

All our hearts were broken when we lost our beloved son/brother Eric in 1987 in a plane crash, as well as Victor to cancer. Paul and Ginny survived and overcame this grief with their faith in God and Jesus and support of their family and friends. Life is difficult, but we need to persevere with hope and faith!

Paul contributes his longevity to a combination of luck, Italian genes, being active and grateful, having a positive and happy attitude and not taking himself too seriously. Also, it was important to realize most life decisions need to be made with the mind, not the heart!

To his beautiful and loving wife, Ginny, she made a life of sacrifices for him and family-they spent a wonderful lifetime together with many blessings and a few crosses! Paul asks for her forgiveness for not always being the best husband and partner!

Paul is survived by his wonderful wife/mother/grandmother/great-grandmother and life partner, Ginny, married for 72 years, spending little time away from each other, and his kids: Paula Parsons (Jack), Steve (Laurie), Glenn (Gloria), and Barry (Wendy). He was predeceased by his son Eric. He had ten grandchildren, Jessica, Rachel, Nicole (Nelson), Garrett, Reece (Shinban), Gabrielle, Katie, Kyle, Jackie and Connor, and four great-grandchildren, Joey, Hutch, Jack and Colette. He was very eager to be able to welcome two new sons-in-law to the family, Jon (Katie) and Asher (Kyle), along with three other great-grandchildren on the way to Kyle, Reece and Shinban.

Finally, it was Paul’s wish that God welcomes him as His good and faithful Servant. He was anxiously waiting to see Eric and other family and friends who had predeceased him. He was proud to have worked hard, accepted responsibility, and know that he earned his success as a husband, father and teacher on earth. He always strove to be a good Catholic Christian and follow the Ten Commandments, love and respect all persons, pursue wisdom, and to honor and learn from history. His last thought and prayers are for Ginny and his entire family-that they all find true happiness through love of God, family and country. He hopes that everyone laughs a lot but also has the courage to live their personal values seeking truth and wisdom, knowing that what defines you is your behavior and not your good intentions. You make a better society by being a better person! Paul was fond of an old Jewish saying “-Man plans, and God laughs.”

A Memorial Mass will be held Thursday, November 14, 2024 from 10:00  - 11:00 AM with a Rosary from 9:30 - 10:00 AM at St. Stevens Catholic Church, 24827 S. Dobson Road, Sun Lakes, AZ 85248. A Reception will follow from 11:00 - 12:30 PM. 

The family requests any donations should be sent to Hillsdale College in Michigan or to Prager U on WEB.