It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Carmelina Aurelia Alessandrelli Mariana Fascina-Purificati. Carmelina gained her angel wings quietly and peacefully on May 30, 2024, surrounded by love and support from her family at the Sault Area Hospital.
Carmelina will be eternally missed by her devoted husband Johnny Purificati, and her beautiful daughters Marina Purificati (Brennan) and Melanie Purificati. Waiting for Carm with open arms in heaven are her father, Alberto Fascina, mother, Maria Fascina (nee Bruno), her little sister Rosanna Bourgault, older sister Carmelina Fascina, and mother and father in-law John and Isola Purificati. She will also be remembered by her brother Joe Fascina (Theresa), and sister Liana Landriault (Timothy), as well as sister in-law Adrianne Purificati (Todd). Carmelina was dearly loved and admired by her many nieces and nephews, great niece and nephew, cousins, zias and zios, as well as her dogs Luna and Willy.
Carmelina was extremely proud of her Italian heritage, filling her life with good food and stories of her impossibly large family, speaking in her native language to anyone she could, and teaching her kids all they need to know about love and faith. There was nothing Carmelina loved more than being a teacher, touching the hearts of hundreds of students and colleagues throughout their lives as she went above and beyond to ensure everyone was receiving the best education they possibly could. Beginning her career as a French teacher over thirty years ago,
Madame Purificati went on to create a world of assistive technology for students with learning disabilities throughout the Huron Superior Catholic District School Board, often referred to as “the computer lady” who brought laptops into the schools and visited more than ten schools a week as well as cities throughout Ontario to teach new programs to students and teachers. Carmelina was incredibly kind, smart, and thoughtful, an avid reader and learner, putting her all into every task she took on and always looking for something new.
Carm learned to coach volleyball and basketball without any prior knowledge and led her teams to success, taught Sunday school every weekend at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church and involved herself in any way she could in clubs and groups throughout her school and community. Whether teaching, coaching, introducing new software, etc., the students always knew that Carmelina had their back and was their greatest advocate. She was one of the friendliest, most caring people you could ever be lucky enough to know. Carm sought out to make a difference in the lives of everyone she met, and she succeeded. Despite all of the memories her illness took from her towards the end of her life, the world is full of people who will remember all of the incredible ways she bettered theirs. To list them all would be simply impossible.
The family would also like to thank all of the nurses in unit 3C at Sault Area Hospital who took incredible care of Carm and her family in her final days.
Friends and family are invited to join in remembering Carmelina’s beautiful life at O’Sullivan Funeral Home from 4:00pm-8:00 pm for visitation on Thursday, June 6, 2024, and the Funeral Mass at 1:00 pm at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church on Friday, June 7, 2024. If you are able, the family would love to see everyone wearing red, Carm’s favourite colour.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Carm’s honour to the Alzheimer Society and Arch Hospice. Payable by cheque.
Visit www.osullivanfuneralhome.com to leave condolences for the family. Arrangements entrusted to O’Sullivan Funeral Home and Cremation Centre, 215 St. James St, 705-759-8456.