James Aiello

James Michael Aiello (age 69), also known as "Jim", "Jimbo", "Daddy Wags", "Big Daddy", "Papa Rose", and "Uncle Jim" passed away on Saturday, May 23, 2020, leaving his retirement paradise of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Jim was born on July 27, 1950 to the late Francis and Elizabeth Aiello in Poughkeepsie, New York. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky and spent most of his adult life in Austin, Texas.

He loved his wife and "Destiny" of 12 years, Rosa "Rose" Amor Largo Aiello. Being the international traveler he was, he and Rose enjoyed travelling to major league baseball games, hiking trails in Hot Springs, and visiting with family and dear friends in Texas, Arkansas, Kentucky, New York, and the Philippines.

In Texas, he raised two daughters, Gina Aiello Lawson and Valerie Aiello Ballard. He provided for and taught them a strong work ethic as he worked as an insurance salesman, convenient store and restaurant owner (Jim's Quickie Pickie/Aiello's Italian Village), home builder, and "Real Estate Magnet", sometimes doing all of these at the same time. Jim was a true renaissance man.

He leaves behind his siblings Carol (David) Wolfe, Lawrence (Roxanne) Aiello, Christine Crownover, and Richard (Dawn) Aiello; two son-in-laws Vince Lawson and Ben Ballard; and his Filipino family who he and Rose visited frequently, Mary Ann (Rolando), Marivic, Mary Jane, Jose Jr., Gilbert  (Rosalinda), Christopher, and Jennifer.

All children loved him since he was such a child-at-heart. He leaves behind his two grandchildren, Alexander and Marlena Lawson, who he adored and they adored him; and many nieces and nephews in the U.S. and Philippines.

Jim was the life of the party and enjoyed playing poker with his Hot Springs "family".

He taught all his loved ones about generosity, genuine kindness, and made everyone laugh.

He is reunited in heaven with his father (Francis Aiello), mother (Elizabeth Aiello) and step-mother (Cheryl Aiello) and eating all the Baskin Robbins jamoca almond fudge and pralines and cream ice cream he wants and is now the karaoke crooner of heaven.

We will have a celebration of life in Texas this summer. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the charity of your choice, as he had so many causes he supported throughout his life.

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