Carmela (Cardinale) Purciello

Carmela (Cardinale) Purciello of Waltham formerly of Belmont , June 25, 2026. Beloved wife of the late Louis Purciello. Loving mother of Peg Hamilton (Bud Lydon), William Purciello (Nancy Purciello), Ellen May(Harry May) Michele Nyman, Stephen Purciello and the late Gerard Purciello. Cherished grandmother of Chris Hamilton, Lisa Duffy Wheble, Michael May, Jarred Nyman, Daniel Nyman, Amanda Purciello Heady, Anthony Purciello, Elena May Gruneberg, Elissa May Franklin, Great grandmother of Gabrielle and Anthony May, Samantha Duffy Joyce, Matthew and Mia Duffy, Jackson and Chloe Hamilton, Chloe Nyman, Finley Franklin, Flora Gruneberg, Leif Heady.  Great Great Grandmother of Lucia Joyce. Predeceased by her siblings Nicholas Cardinale, Mary Cardinale, Raphaela Davin, Vincent Cardinale, Eleanor Cardinale. Also survived by her nephews Joseph and Paul Davin.  

Carmela was a devout Catholic throughout her life, finding great comfort and strength in her faith. As a longtime resident of Belmont and a young mother, she was deeply involved in many activities at St. Joseph’s Parish. In her later years, she made watching daily Catholic TV Mass a cherished routine—so much so that everyone knew not to disturb her during that sacred time. She was a devoted mother to her six children, maintaining close bonds with each of them throughout her life. Carmela and Louis shared 63 years of marriage, providing a loving example of parenthood and a strong, affectionate partnership. Together, they humorously dubbed their collaborative household efforts the “Two Left Foot Moving Company,” with Louis affectionately nicknaming her Rudy, his trusty partner in physical chores. Carmela was the heart of her extended family, often hosting Christmas Eve gatherings well into her 90s. She cherished her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was overjoyed to meet a great-great-grandchild just two years ago. Beyond her children, Carmela maintained a close relationship with her siblings, who were her trusted confidants, companions, and friends. Their shared love of literature, music, laughter, and family created a lasting bond. In later years, she enjoyed the joy of sharing her home with her sister Eleanor. A lover of music, Carmela especially adored classical compositions and could name most symphonies and composers after just a few bars. She played the piano well into her 80s and had a particular fondness for opera, especially the works of Caruso and Andrea Bocelli. Carmela and Louis shared a passion for travel, delighting in trips to the ocean, Cape Cod, Florida, Arizona, Rockport, Gloucester, and especially Italy. Having grown up in Orient Heights, Carmela developed an early love for the ocean, often visiting nearby beaches like Revere Beach and Point of Pines. Her life was marked by love, faith, family, and a deep appreciation for music and the simple joys of travel and togetherness.

Visiting hours in Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church 920 Trapelo Road.  Waltham on Tuesday July 7th from 10:00 - 11:00 AM. Followed by a funeral mass at 11:00 AM. Relatives and friends invited. Interment St Patrick Cemetery, Watertown. Donations can be made in her memory to Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation or The American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

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