Michael Purro

Michael S. Purro, 70, of Coventry, passed away on Saturday, August 31, 2024, with his sons, Michael and Mario by his bedside, after a brief and unexpected illness. Born and raised in the Federal Hill section of Providence, he was the son of the late Luigi and Anna (Palmieri) Purro.

Before retiring in 2020, Mr. Purro was a detective for the Special Investigations Bureau of the Providence Police Department. In his career as a Patrolman and Detective, Mr. Purro was awarded multiple commendations for his service including the Police Chiefs Medal. As a young man, he was a member of the St. John's Church Drum and Bugle Corps and a member of Troop 77 Boy Scouts. Later, Mr. Purro was an original and long time member of the Rhode Island Matadors Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2012, he was inducted into the Rhode Island Drum and Bugle Corps Hall of Fame. Mr. Purro had an inquisitive mind and a creative spirit, and he was an avid musician. He was a self-taught musician who excelled at playing the piano in addition to composing his own music. Mr. Purro also volunteered and dedicated his time to his sons' participation in multiple youth sports including Silver Lake Baseball and the Edgewood Eagles Pop Wamer Football League.

He is survived by his sons, Michael Purro, Jr. and Mario Purro; Denise Petrangelo(former spouse); two brothers, Louis and Richard Purro; and his sister, Annette Purro and spouse Pauline Patchis: his aunts, Gloria Barbato, Marie Fairbrothers, Sandra Martinelli, and Angela Calderone; his nephew Stephen Purro, and wife Morgan; his nieces Allegra Purro and husband JD Strickland, Ariana (Purro) Prew and husband Joseph, and Emma Jenkins Purro; his grand nephews, Leo and Jack Purro; his grand niece Hazel Cecelia Prew; his longtime best friends Steve Scullion and Vinny Lopez. He was the brother of the late Stephen Purro. He was the nephew of the late William Purro, Dorothea Gallo, Kathleen Caduto, and Nancy Purro. He was the cousin of the late Antonio and Antonetta Perrotta.

It is with heavy hearts that we must lay our beloved father to rest. Our father was a truly unique individual of many talents, dreams, and aspirations. He represented his family, community and traditional Italo -American heritage that he learned not only from his family but the "Federal Hill" family writ large. The shared experiences, values, and friendships served him well throughout his life. It is truly a cruel exercise in futility to fully convey the true picture of the man and his everlasting influence that he had on our lives. How do you summarize 70 years into a paragraph or headline? But the cruel realities of life and inevitability of death forces us all to make a harsh accommodation for the inscrutable ironies and tragedies of this life. How do you place a value on a soul or a legacy? The only way to express what his life meant to us is to explain how he died. The manner in which he accepted his death embodied all the values that he taught us as kids. Although our Dad suffered in the course of his demise, he never flinched, complained, demanded or cried. He exhibited silent strength and steadfast resolve to accept his fate and the Will of GOD and in so doing, the eternal admiration and respect of his sons. He died like a MAN. Our Dad's weakest moments of his life produced his finest hour at his death. As our Dad passes through the corridor of time to walk into eternity to be with his beloved parents and the Lord Jesus Christ, we know he will be walking into Heaven with no fear- no retreat- no reserves- no regrets. We will love and miss you forever. Goodbye Dad

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Graveside Service on Friday, September 6, 2024 at 10 a.m. in St.Ann Cemetery, Cranston. Family and friends are asked to gather at 9:45 am in the parking lot across the street from the main gate of the cemetery. Cars will then process into the cemetery at 10 a.m. for the service. In lieu of flowers, donations in Michael’s memory may be made to: Tunnel To Towers Foundation https://t2t.org or American Lung Association https://www.lung.org

On behalf of myself, Mario, and the Purro Family,

We would like to express our deepest and heartfelt gratitude to all of our Father's friends and family for all of the caring, kindness, sympathetic words and patient, understanding support that all of you showed our family. We would also like to extend special gratitude to the ICU nurses and doctors who were especially skilled, kind, and compassionate in the course of treatment for our Father. Moreover, we also want to thank the Providence Police Department for providing us with a police detail to honor our father's service and commitment to his career and community. In particular, we would sincerely like to thank the individual police officers, current and retired, who attended the service. In addition, thank you to all who made donations to various organizations in our Father's name. We were truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and the number of well wishers and ATTENDEES at the ceremony. We feel honored that our Father had so many friends and caring people in his lifetime. The quality of friends from his childhood to his death are a testament to not only the person he was, but the character of all of you. May you all find the the joy, friendships, and love that YOU have brought to our Father's life.

Eternally Grateful

The Purro Family