Alma A. Purcell

LYNN - Alma A. (Valdora) Purcell, 96, resident of Lynn, MA died on Thursday, March 23rd. She was born in Boston, MA on November 6, 1920, a daughter of the late Carlo and Angelina(Sasso))Valdora. She grew up and went to schools in Revere and Somerville, MA. Her first job after high school was sewing life vests for aviators in WW II. She met the love of her life, John J. Purcell and they were married in July 1947. They settled in Lynn Ma where Alma became very active in her church (St. Joseph and later Holy Family in Lynn). She served on the convent guild at St. Joseph and helped with the fund-raising activities for a new convent. She was also a member of the Blessed Virgin Sodality, our Lady’s Guild, at Holy Family church. She served as a den mother for the cub scouts for many years. After her children were in high school, she went back to work, first at J. M. Fields in Swampscott and Medford and then at John Hancock in Boston until her retirement in 1985.

Alma loved to travel throughout the US, Canada, Bermuda and was able to visit her parents’ and grandparents’ childhood homes in Italy.

Alma was the beloved wife of John J Purcell who died in 1967. Family members include: a son, John and his wife Robin Vidimos of Centennial, CO; a son, James and his wife Patricia of Merrimack, NH; and a daughter, Carolyn Purcell of Lynn, MA; three grandchildren John, Michael and Sean; a sister, Doris Good of Wakefield, MA; a sister, Rita and her husband Ralph Francesconi of Wakefield, MA; her longtime friend, Helen Gangi of Lynn, MA. Alma also had many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Alma’s funeral will be held on Thursday, March 30th from the CUFFE-MCGINN FUNERAL HOME, 157 Maple St., Lynn, at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at Holy Family Church, Lynn to be celebrated by Fr. Joseph Cahill. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lynn. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday, March 29th from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Alma’s memory to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Avenue, Suite 6, Waltham, MA 02451- 8750 or via www.heart.org or to the American Diabetes Association, 260 Cochituate Road, #200, Framingham, Massachusetts, 01701 or via www.diabetes.org.