Barry R. Praiano Jr., 50, died unexpectedly of a heart attack at his home Friday, April 3. He was the husband of Mary Jane (Chambers) Praiano, with whom he celebrated 30 years of marriage last October.
Praiano was born in Haverhill Jan. 20, 1965. He was a son of Mary Jane (Goodwin) and the late Barry R. Praiano. Praiano graduated from Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in the class of 1984, where he met his high school sweetheart, Mary Jane.
For more than 22 years, he worked as a coaxial cable manufacturer at Haverhill Cable Manufacturing Company. He then went on to work for Ipswich Bay Glass in the warehouse.
Praiano will be remembered as a generous man with a kind soul who touched the lives of all of those he encountered. He had a deep faith in God, and served as a member on his church board. He was also an avid sports fan. He loved the Red Sox and the New York Giants, but he loved watching the Bruins the most, so much that he instilled the same love in his children. Barry enjoyed playing poker at home with his family, as well as playing Keno with his dear friend, Belfie.
In addition to his wife and mother, he is survived by his two children, Michael Praiano and Hannah Praiano and her boyfriend, David Manners; his sister, Mara Praiano; his grandmother, Thelma Praiano; his step-mother, Barbara Praiano; two step sisters, Jessica Clement-Greenbaum and her husband, Jordan, and Laura Brindle and her husband, Brian; four god-children, Shanoah Madison, Ayden Goodrich, Olivia Brindle and Cameron Balkus; his god-parents, James Goodwin and Susan “Cookie” Preston; and his mother and father-in-law, Arlene and Dave Suter; as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law and lifelong friends.
His funeral service will be held Wednesday in the Church of the Nazarene, 957 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill at 11 a.m. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Ave., Haverhill from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Barry’s family at this difficult time of need. Please send to the Praiano Family, 34 Lincoln Avenue, Haverhill, MA 01830.