BANGOR – James R. Chiarell Sr., 91, died March 31, 2012, at a Bangor nursing home. He was born May 24, 1920, in Gasperina, Italy, son of Dominic and Maria (Paparo) Chiarell.
James met Clover Tripp at Dow Air Force Base, Bangor, and they were married in 1941. They traveled to many locations while James was in the Air Force, they included bases in Illinois, Maine, Texas and Utah. James served from 1942 to 1945 in the 8th Army Air Corps in England during World War II as a crew chief on a B-17 aircraft. He also served during the Korean War, and retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1963 with 24 years service as a mechanic and flight engineer. After his military service, he was a boiler engineer at Eastern Maine Community College. James was a member of the Hampden and Bangor Senior Citizens, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Italian American Club. He enjoyed gardening, traveling to warmer climates, working at the Salvation Army soup kitchen and he was an avid walker. He also loved watching old western movies. James was a very loving and caring husband and father.
James is survived by three sons, James R. Chiarell and his wife, Rose, of Carmel, John M. Chiarell of Carmel, and Jerald P. Chiarell and his wife, Julie, of Whitefield; one daughter, Jacqueline V. Chiarell of Milford; six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his wife, Clover Chiarell; three brothers, Vincent, Fred and Michael Chiarell; and sister, Rose Megro. The family thanks the Maine Veterans Home staff for the loving and dedicated care they provided to James.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 4, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor. Interment will be 10 a.m. Thursday, April 5, at the Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 163 Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. Those who wish to remember James in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Alzheimer’s Association, 170 U.S. Route One, Suite 250, Falmouth, ME 04105; or Bangor Humane Society, 693 B Mount Hope Ave., Bangor, ME 04401. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.