Maria Purpura Obituary
Maria (Valgellini) Purpura, age 92, of Gloucester, MA, beloved wife of the late Giacomo Purpura, passed peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.
Born on May 24, 1931, daughter of the late Antonina (Orlando) Valgellini and Antonino (Cesare) Valgellini in Terrasini, Sicily, Italy.
Maria married her late husband Giacomo on October 31, 1955, in Italy. Her pride and joy were her three children, the late Salvatore, Maria Grazia (Grace), and Antonina (Nina). She was dedicated to her family while her husband traveled for work. In 1971, they decided to move to San Pedro, California where her brother Giuseppe and his family lived. After one year, they moved to Gloucester, MA for better fishing jobs and opportunities, where her uncle Andrew and aunt Margherita Orlando lived.
Remaining in Gloucester, she worked for a few years and later retired to be a housewife, mother, and amazing grandmother making sure her family was well taken care of. She enjoyed sewing and making aprons, crocheting, watching the Celtics and Red Sox, cooking and baking especially for Sunday lunches with her children, grandchildren, and extended family and friends. She loved her weekly Saturday night cards with her girlfriends. She also loved to dance and attend family gatherings with family and friends. She carried herself with elegance, beauty, and grace. Her nurturing and loving spirit will be missed by all whose lives she touched.
Maria is survived by her daughters Maria Grazia (Grace) Mortillaro of Gloucester and Antonina (Nina) D'Amico and husband Domenic D'Amico; grandchildren, Enza and husband Robert Zeuli, Maria and husband Giuseppe Cracchiolo, Graziella and husband Donald Paone, Mimmo and wife Jacquie Mortillaro, and Stefano and wife Lori D'Amico; great-grandchildren, Eliana Cracchiolo, Domenic Paone, Ava Paone, Martina Cracchiolo, Ivana Zeuli, Sofia Zeuli, Cash Mortillaro, and Marco D'Amico; brother Mercurio Valgellini and wife Maria of Terrasini, sister Gaetana Perna of Terrasini, sister-in-law Rosalia Valgellini; and special cousins Rosalie Ciaramitaro and husband Joseph and Josephine Buccherieri and husband Corado and their children; and many additional nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews, cousins, and extended family members.
In addition to her parents, husband, and son, Maria was predeceased by her son-in-law, Filippo Mortillaro of Gloucester, her brother Giuseppe Valgellini of San Pedro, California, and sister Rosalia Iacopelli of Terrasini.
Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Ann's Church on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at 11 a.m., with visiting hour from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and burial immediately following thereafter. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend.
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