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Paul Thomas Spaniola
Born: 1/29/1913
Died: 8/27/2013
Age: 100
Community: Swartz Creek, MI
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SPANIOLA, Paul Thomas - Age 100, of Swartz Creek, died August 27, 2013 at home surrounded by his loving family. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 AM Saturday, August 31, 2013 at St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Swartz Creek. Burial will follow in New Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be held 10AM-9PM Thursday and Friday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek. A Sons of Italy service will be held at 6:30 PM Friday, followed by a rosary at 7 PM and a Knights of Columbus Memorial service. In lieu of flowers, those desiring may make contributions to St. Mary Queen of Angels Building Fund or Heartland Hospice. Paul was born on January 29, 1913 in Muskegon, the son of Francis and Josephine Spagnuolo. He married Leona Merrill on October 24, 1932; she preceded him in death on August 27, 1978. He then married Doris E. Bloss on June 27, 1981; she preceded him in death on October 31, 2007. He was a member of St. Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Sons of Italy, Elks, Flint Arrowhead Pipe Club and International Association of Pipe Smokers Club. He was quite industrious as a young man and held many different jobs; selling newspapers on the corner, working at the local theater and as a bellhop in Owosso where he grew up. He shined shoes at his brother's pool hall in Swartz Creek, which later he purchased from his brother and changed the name to Paul's Tavern and Pipe Shop. He left the tavern and moved the Pipe Shop part of the business to Flint in 1947. He blended his own tobaccos and developed the art of oil curing pipes and coating the bowls to make them smoke sweeter. The Arrowhead Pipe Club was organized and founded by him and the Michigan Pipe Smoking Contest began. He is the only six time World Champion Pipe Smoker. The Pipe Museum at the Pipe Shop has many treasures on display and was his pride and joy. Throughout his life he met many famous people including Susan Hayward, who he taught to smoke a pipe and had a great relationship with C.S. Mott and many Judges in the Flint area. He had been interviewed by many newspaper, magazines and TV personalities continually seeking him out to discuss the art of pipe smoking, as well as, his long history of business in downtown Flint. He was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Martha Collins of Kentucky. In 1988, he received the key to the City of Flint. In November 2002, he was presented the President's Award for his 55 years in business in Flint. Surviving are: children, James Spaniola, Patricia (David) Schoenfield, Janice (Malcolm) Caudle, Lois Durish, Pauline (Murray) Maurer, Daniel (Cheryl) Spaniola, Sister Jacqueline Spaniola, OSF of Green Bay, WI, Nora Spaniola, Karen Blount, Sharon (Dennie) Smallwood, Sandra (Mark) Rydzak; brother, Arthur; 80 grandchildren, 99 great-grandchildren; 14 great-great grandchildren; sons-in-law, Terry Krotzer and Michael Shumaker; daughter-in-law, Sally Dikos. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Mary Fortino and Anne Spaniola; brothers, Louis, Anthony, Victor, Robert (Roy), Alphonso and Frederick; daughter, Phyllis Shumaker; sons, Paul Spaniola Jr. and Carl Spaniola; daughter-in-law, Mae Spaniola; son-in-law, Robert Durish; granddaughters, Gena Schoenfield and Amber Spaniola. The family wishes to thank LaVonna and Tina for their loving care, as well as, the wonderful staff of Heartland Hospice. Online condolences may be posted on the obituaries page of www.sharpfuneralhomes.com |
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| Visitation |
| Visitation will be held 10AM-9PM Thursday and Friday at Sharp Funeral Homes, Miller Road Chapel, 8138 Miller Rd., Swartz Creek. A rosary will be held 7 PM Friday at the funeral home followed by a Knights of Columbus Memorial service. |
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| Funeral Service |
| Date: |
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8/31/2013 |
| Time: |
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11:00 AM |
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