Obituary: Gabriela Purugganan

The following is from Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home.

Gabriela S. (Santiago) Purugganan passed away Tuesday morning, Dec. 30, 2014, with her family by her side in the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital in Melrose. She was 90.

Born in Pasig City, Philippines, she was the daughter of the late Engracio Santiago and Antonia (Legaspi) Santiago. On April 15, 1943, she married her husband Artemio B. Purugganan in the Philippines.

After moving to the United States, the family settled in Malden where she dedicated herself as a homemaker and cared for her family. In her spare time, she enjoyed playing the piano in her home. A warm and loving person, Gabriela will be missed by her friends and family.

In addition to her husband, Gabriela is survived by her children Dolores Tolerba of Texas, Priscilla Cruz of Malden, Corazon Tuason of the Philippines, Artemio Purugganan Jr. of Malden, Josefina Mapile of North Carolina and Edgardo Purugganan of Holbrook. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews.

Gabriela was preceded in death by her brother Tolomeo Santiago.

Funeral from the Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, 144 Salem St., Malden, on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2015, at 9 a.m. followed by a mass in Sacred Hearts Church, 297 Main St., Malden, at 10 a.m. Interment services will be private.

Visitation will be held in the funeral home on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, from 4-8 p.m.