Peter Thomas
Avallone
January 1, 1930 - September 8, 2020
Peter Thomas Avallone was born in Queens, New York, on January 1, 1930 – the fifth child of Ralph Avallone and his wife, Helen (nee Carroll). Peter enjoyed a happy childhood along with his sisters – Marie, Margarite, Eileen, & Cathleen. He learned his father’s trade as a printer and became a highly qualified journeyman. Peter married Joan Bromley on March 28, 1953. Together they raised two children, Timothy and Elizabeth, and later welcomed their mates, Jennifer and Philip, into their loving family.
Peter was a family man and a godly man – a transplanted New York Italian who came to love a girl from Tennessee and the friendliness and slower pace of Southern life. Peter was intrigued when his wife began to study the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. He investigated, was moved by what he learned, and was baptized at a convention in Chattanooga in 1959. In 1961 he relocated the family to Florence, Alabama, and soon found work at Herald Printing. That year, he was asked to serve as a minister with the Florence congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Peter stood out with his Roman nose and strong New York accent – and his out-going nature and corny jokes made him well-loved.
Ever since childhood Peter had an ‘ear for music.’ As a young adult, he became an accomplished jazz pianist and learned music composition. In the 1980’s, he arranged music for UNA’s Big Band and often was their pianist. He performed at the Turtle Point Country Club and at restaurants and parties.
Peter came to be well-known and loved, not only by the community of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Northwestern Alabama, but also by musicians, music students, and the audiences in front of whom he had the privilege of performing.
Peter loved the verse in Isaiah 65:22: “They will not build for someone else to inhabit, nor will they plant for others to eat. For the days of my people will be like the days of a tree, and the work of their hands my chosen ones will enjoy to the full.” We can just imagine Peter on the day of his resurrection, young and healthy – ready to work hard, to compose beautiful music that honors Jehovah God, and to live life to the full.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. (Central Time), on Saturday, September 26th by Zoom. The link on Zoom is 730 3681 0371; the Password is PETER (in all caps). To listen to the services by phone, dial 1 (346) 248-7799. you may sign the guest book at sprywilliams.com
Memorial Service by PHONE to listen to the service must call 1-346-248-7799
September 26, 2020
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
to listen to the service you have to call the 1-346-248-7799
Memorial Service ZOOM 1-730-3681-0371 Password PETER
September 26, 2020
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
to watch the service must call 1-346-248-7799 and put in the password PETER all in caps to watch the service
Donations to the Family
We need to talk about donation portals to the families.
Send Flowers
Here is where we can preview the floral site and take orders directly.
8 Comments on “Peter Thomas Avallone”
I came to know ‘Pete’ Avallone in 1977 as a little boy after his daughter, Elizabeth, met my Mom in the door-to-door ministry work. Pete and his wife, Joan, became spiritual grandparents to my brother, Scott, and me. They invested their time, love and energies into helping shape us from boys into men who love Jehovah God as our Heavenly Father. Pete and Joan were there for us to help us come to love God’s Word, the Bible, and to put its thoughts deep into our thoughts and feelings. I never met anyone who loved God’s Word more than Pete. Whenever we would gather to study the Bible with other Jehovah’s Witnesses, Pete would make sure that we read as many scriptures as we could in the hour-long meeting. He would divide up the reading so that young ones like us could have a share. Later, when helping me to become a public speaker, he emphasized how we need to read, explain, illustrate and apply whatever scriptures we read in our public talks. God’s Word should be the basis for everything we believe and teach.
Pete also enjoyed a good time together with friends. I still remember our congregation gatherings at the Royal Avenue Recreation Center. Pete would play the piano, with others joining in on bass and fiddle. He could really play well. I later enjoyed seeing him playing jazz piano.
Pete also had a great sense of humor. He loved to listen to the radio programs of the comedians from the old days, especially their puns and wise-cracks. Pete knew more corny jokes than anyone else I have ever met!
Once I got married, he used to come by our house when we still lived in Florence and would pick green tomatoes from our garden. My wife and I were reminiscing about that after learning of his death. He was also such a great support to my wife after she moved from her home in Switzerland to Alabama. She could always go and talk with Pete and Joan about anything that was on her mind. They treated her as another member of their family.
No one can overestimate the positive influence Pete and Joan have had on so many people who came to know and love them both.
I’m really, really looking forward to seeing Pete again soon, not as an older man, but as a healthy young man, full of life and energy! May Jehovah God remember Pete for all of the good he did in his 90 years. And may Jehovah also give Joan the comfort she needs now and the strength she needs to keep enduring to the end.
Much love,
Bart Jackson (and Piroschka, Daisy and Ben)
We pass on our sincere condolences to the Avallone family. May Jehovah sustain you during this very sad time. And may you find comfort in knowing sad events like this are temporary. Brother Avallone is very much alive in Jehovah’s memory, which is the best place to be right now. This is yet another reason to look forward to the resurrection to see our loved ones again. You are in our prayers. We look forward to meeting Brother Avallone. Your friends back , Steve and Laura Sadowski (Patterson, NY)
Peter escorted me down the aisle when I was married to my husband in 1999. He had been a spiritual father to me and all his daughter’s friends for years. We had good fathers, but they were not particularly spiritual men, so his guidance and the example of both he and Joan was of the greatest benefit. His ear was open and he patiently listened through many youthful crisis and some things he said have stuck with me as pivotal even forty years later.
Both Peter and Joan lived the life of what a spiritual family should be and welcomed their children’s friends into their life as almost their own children. Many, many good memories of trips, music around the piano, meals, and how are you doing chats, and the meetings and ministry. They seemed never too busy to put things aside for a time to listen and be sincerely interested.
Their Bible study routine, the way they treated each other, their helping hand always extended, their volunteering at large conventions, the hospitality, their meeting support, their door to door activities and Bible studies with others, the way they dealt with hardships, their firmness for right combined with reasonableness and non-judgmental view of others, everything was the finest example to all, but especially to young people trying to form their values in a confusing and often discouraging world. Even older age did not change these things in them, although it may have lessened their strength to do it, the spirit remained.
Peter is now resting for a time, but God will not let such a good friend go permanently. How he must look forward to welcoming him back, as we look forward to seeing him again. I have known him since I was eleven years old. I hope to know him forever.
My deepest condolences to Joan, Timothy & Jennifer, and Elizabeth & Philip on the loss of their beloved husband and father. His Godly influence on so many people cannot be measured. I pray they will find comfort in his memories and know they will see him again soon.
Everyone loved his jokes — the cornier, the better! One that has always stuck with me — “This guy went into an ice cream shop and ordered a vanilla ice cream — it seemed to take forever before the guy finally came back with this big cone of HAIRY ice cream — hair all over the top. He said, ‘what is this!? I ordered vanilla!’ The clerk said, ‘OH, I thought you said GORILLA ice cream’!!!” It still makes me laugh — remembering the delight on Peter’s face when he told it.
And he was a wonderful musician — he brought joy to so many people. He shared his deep spiritual wisdom, music and humor with all who knew him.
My deepest sympathy to the Avallone family, with prayers for your comfort.
Dear Joan, Tim, Elizabeth, Jennifer, and Philip,
Please accept our deepest condolences. Like so many others, we too felt your family’s love welcoming us with open arms. Little did I know, that when I opened the phone book 30 years ago in search of a Piano instructor, that my life would be forever impacted by Peter and your family. I learned so much more than just how to play the piano. Through my moody teenage years, I was always cheerfully greeted for my lesson with a story or a Proverb of advice to help me cope with whatever seemingly difficult trial I was going through at the time. These words of wisdom stuck with me. Later when my mother decided to continue her Bible studies, your family was there to patiently instruct and educate. But the Bible studies, although informative, were so much more. Your family lived the truths in the Bible. We could see God’s love in action. I have so many fond memories of times at your home, being greeted at the door with a warm smile, hug, and slippers to make myself at home followed by a new joke that would make me roll my eyes and laugh. We all secretly loved Peter’s jokes and wondered how he had so many. I learned so much from Peter. How to have patience when dealing with others, never letting others rob you of your own joy and peace. How to wisely choose a marriage mate, someone whom loved God and was my best friend. How to really live a rich and fulfilling life, not in the pursuit of material things, but to enjoy the moments with others who serve God as well. Peter is loved so much and a day does not go by without my thinking of your family. We look forward to the time when we can be reunited with him. Until that day, please know our hearts ache with yours until we can see him again.
Much Love,
Dale & Cathy Bailey
Our hearts ache for you…Joan, Elizabeth, Tim and the extended Avallone family. We pray that the God of tender mercies and the God of all comfort is comforting each of you in this tribulation. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. We are confident that Jehovah has a yearning to hear Peter playing music and telling his jokes. Job 14:15
With warm love, greetings and continuous prayers.
Jim and Melinda
San Diego
My prayers are with your family during your loss. Thanks so much for being such wonderful neighbors to my mother Artice Pendergrass for over fifty years.
Dear Joan , Elizabeth , Tim , Phillip .
We are deeply sorry for your loss. We will add Peter although we have never met him to our Resurrección list . What a joy it will be to meet him . He obviously was a funny and loving person that everyone enjoyed being with . Maybe he can teach me to play the piano . You are in our thoughts , hearts and prayers . Thank you for allowing us to hear his memorial talk .
With warm Christian love
Gary and Olga Bastida