Mary Alice Purpura

FORT WORTH — Mary Alice Purpura passed away Sunday, May 1, 2016, at the age of 86.
Mass: 10 a.m. Saturday, May 14, at Good Shepherd Catholic Community, 1000 Tinker Road, Colleyville 76034. Visitation: The family will receive and greet guests from 9:30 to 10 a.m. and the mass will begin at 10 a.m.
Witty, feisty, quirky, sage, devout, warm-hearted — these are just a few words that describe Mary Alice Purpura. On May 1, 2016, at the age of 86 years old and just four days shy of her 87th birthday, Mary Alice returned safely home to Heaven.
Born at the start of the Great Depression in 1929 to Michael and Alice Lynch in Chicago, Ill., Mary Alice Purpura lived a life of servitude to God and to her family. Her parents, along with her sister, Therese Swist, preceded her in death. Her family loved with a passion her corned beef that she would boil for a whole day on St. Patrick’s Day, and her spaghetti sauce that she learned to make from the Italian family she married into in 1952. Her husband of 39 years, James Michael Purpura, also preceded her in death. James and Mary Alice shared a mutual love of baseball, particularly the Chicago White Sox, going to Long John Silver’s after Sunday mass, and taking leisurely walks.
Mary Alice was a teenager during World War II while rationing was in effect and talked about getting in trouble for eating all the bananas after her mother waited in line for them for hours. She loved her sweets, especially gummy bears, and disdained vegetables — particularly turnips, which she was tasked with eating every Sunday as a child. It was a time of thrift and she held on to that mentality throughout her life, choosing a vacuum over a fur coat when given the choice of a Christmas gift from her husband. She was an avid reader, loved to make homemade crafts, and had a green thumb and flourishing African Violets. Above all, she will be remembered for her actions of great love and devotion she showed to her family and friends.
Mary Alice was very strict and did not accept excuses but she was always quick with a joke or a witticism. She had many one-liners but one of the family favorites was “I think you’re crying poor with a loaf of bread under your arm,” which meant one was complaining when they were actually very blessed. All who loved her, and there were many, were blessed to have had her for so long. She will be missed, she will be mourned, but she will never be forgotten.
Survivors: Mary Alice is survived by her five children, Michele Collins (Larry), James Purpura (Terry), Timothy Purpura (Shari), Martin Purpura and Susan Byerly (Richard); eight grandchildren, Patricia Boling, Scott Ritter, Amanda Schroeder, Alisha Byerly, Maritess Purpura, Suzanna Purpura, Brooke Purpura and Brennan Purpura; and 7 great-grandchildren.

BROWN, OWENS & BRUMLEY
Family Funeral Home & Crematory
425 S. Henderson, 817-335-4557