Thomas A. Tarro, Jr.

Thomas A. Tarro, Jr., 98 of Cranston passed away suddenly at home on December 25, 2023 after enjoying Christmas dinner with his family.  He was the beloved son of Thomas and Clara (Gentile) Tarro.  He was happily married to Antonetta (Pisano) Tarro for 78 years until her recent passing on October 29, 2023. Tom leaves behind his four children Thomas A. Tarro, III, Esq. (wife Judy), Dianne Tarro, Angelica Girard, Nannette Brittain (husband William) and son-in-law Carlos Girard; his nine grandchildren, Thomas Tarro, MD, Jessica Borillo (husband Dayren), Christopher Tarro, Jenna Updike, Esq. (husband Curtis), Adriana Girard, PA-C, Jaclyn Bascome, RN, Andre Girard, Corey Girard and Christina Girard; and two great grandchildren, Daniel and Isabella Borillo; all of whom were his pride and joy.

He was the brother of the late Marguerite Mancini, Lillian Webber and Anna DeJoseph.  He loved and was comforted and aided by his nieces and nephews, Elaine, Raymond, Bobby, Sandy and Cindy.

In his youth, Tom and his wife, Etta, loved to travel.  They always set aside Saturday night as a special date night for dinner and dancing with their many friends.

Tom served honorably in WWII with the U.S. Army and participated in the Normandy invasion. He was stationed in France and London during his military career.  When he returned to Rhode Island, he married Etta on September 22, 1945.

He was a mechanic by trade and the owner of Tom & Fred’s Service Station on Hartford Avenue in Providence for over 50 years where his customers and employees became his life-long friends.  Amongst those he considered his closest friends, who he admired for their humility, honesty and leadership, were Senator Claiborne Pell and Senator Jack Reed. He was known as a prankster surrounded by a cast of sit-com characters and was an avid Yankee fan. He loved to dine at Twin Oaks and constantly reminded the staff that he had been going there for over 80 years and always ordered eggplant, no cheese, no garlic. Throughout his life he went out of his way to help people who were in need and those who were in trouble.

His Mass of Christian Burial, to which relatives and friends are invited, will be held on Friday, January 5, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mark’s Church, 9 Garden Court, Cranston, followed by burial with military honors at RI Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Exeter.  VISITING HOURS are Thursday, January 4, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to RI Community Food Bank, 200 Niantic Ave., Providence, RI 02907.