Vincent Palazzo

Vincent was born September 20, 1931 to Charley & Mary (Cemino) Palazzo in the Cameron Ranch area of Bryan. Shortly after his birth they moved to Houston.
The first Palazzo’s Grocery Store was in the Third Ward on Elgin and Burkette St. Then they moved to the Heights and opened a store at 1021 West 8th St. They were in the grocery and rental business for thirty-five years. Vincent worked side-by-side with his parents in the store and seeing to the needs of the rent houses. He could fix anything, and in every way.
He would come to Bryan by car or train in the summer months as a youth to visit relatives. He would stay at his grandparents’ houses. Grandmaw & Grandpaw Palazzo (Charley & Francis), as well as Grandmaw & Grandpaw Cemino (Luke & Benadetta). He recalls riding the wagon to town with them – a pretty neat experience for a little city boy. He would also help with the farming and had all kinds of neat experiences on his visits.
When Vincent was young, he got Polio, leaving him paralyzed for about a year. He had a dream that St. Joseph gave him communion. With continual fervent prayer of family, and the healing hand of God, Vincent was miraculously healed two weeks after his dream.
Vincent left for the Marine Corps in 1951. After boot camp in San Diego, he was stationed at Whidbey Island, Washington. His parents missed him dearly (he was an only child). When he came home from the Marines, he returned to help his parents in the store up until the time he married. He married Gloria Valenti in 1958. Having three children close in age, he then took a job with the city of Houston and had several other jobs after that.
Houston is where he was raised, but he had a tugging on his heart to move to Bryan-College Station, so in 1971, he packed it all up & moved with the help of his uncle Joe Cemino. His Uncle Charlie Cemino was developing land on the South end of College Station and he bought a home from him – AHHHH, country living at its finest! Away at last from the fast pace of the big city. College Station was a small city at that time and he saw the entire Highway 6 By-Pass built. Little did he know, he was starting a trend because shortly after moving, his cousins, Cindi & Charles Cemino left Houston & moved to their ranch house in College Station. Also following, was Uncle Charlie Cemino and then his parents, Charley & Mary Palazzo. It was wonderful having everyone together. Vincent loved to play cards at Uncle Charlie’s house on the weekend. He also loved a good Domino Game out on the patio with Mr. Pat Ponzio. One of his hobbies was putting model planes together and had planes always hanging in the house. He loved telling stories of the old grocery store days & Marine stories. His listeners would never get tired of the stories, because it was as if he were telling it for the first time – every time. Another love of his was Italian music and his Italian heritage, but the biggest love of his was for his family.
He then opened up a small liquor store on Texas Avenue, Palazzo’s Liquor. He was in that business for approximately ten years. One of the last jobs he worked was at the Brazos Transit System and drove a city bus – he loved it and everyone loved him, making them laugh with his jokes.
Vincent did not like to miss Mass and was a very faithful attendee and participant, and was there at every opportunity given at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. He was also a former member at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in downtown Houston, St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Memorial Park, and All Saints Catholic Church in the Heights, both in Houston.
Vincent is preceded in death by his parents, Charley & Mary Palazzo.
Survivors include his children: Vincent Joseph Palazzo Jr, Mary Ann (Palazzo) Boscarino & husband, Bob Boscarino, and Sammy Charles Palazzo, all of Bryan, Texas; grandchildren: Gentry Lea Ridgeway & husband, Robert of Bryan, Justin Palazzo & wife, Brittiny of The Woodlands, Texas; great-grandchildren: Ryder Ridgeway and Athan Palazzo; and numerous cousins.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 PM with a Rosary at 6 PM on Sunday, February 26th at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2 PM on Monday, February 27th at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church with interment to follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery.