Vivian (Lamothe) (Sorenson) Purselley

Vivian I Purselley
April 14, 1929- May 29, 2012

Vivian I. (Lamothe) (Sorenson) Purselley, 83, died peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Tuesday, May 29, 2012, after a period of failing health. Vivian was born in Manchester, NH, the daughter of Albert J. Lamothe and Ozelina "Lena" (Dion) Lamothe. She lived all of her life in Goffstown, NH. Vivian was a proud 1947 graduate of St. Joseph's High School for Girls where she served on the reunion committee every five years for sixty years. Vivian worked at New England Telephone and Telegraph, for the town of Goffstown, at Prevue Products, at the Hanover Hill Nursing Home, and finally at St. Anselm College. Vivian once served as the Goffstown Town Treasurer and as a trustee of the Goffstown Public Library. She loved politics and worked for various election campaigns as well as helped with town elections. Her devotion and service to the Villa Augustina Academy in Goffstown, her daughters' school, lasted her whole life. Vivian enjoyed traveling and going out to dinner with Jim as well as visiting her daughters and grandchildren for large family gatherings.

She is survived by her beloved and deeply devoted husband, Jimmie D. Purselley of Goffstown. She leaves five daughters: Carolyn J. Somma and her husband Victor of Worcester, MA; Christine A. Modzelewski and her husband John of McAlester. OK; Catherine M. Manning and her husband Robert of Newburyport, MA; Corinne L. Sorenson of Rangeley, ME; and Carla A. Lopes and her husband Rick of Grafton, MA. She also leaves thirteen adored grandchildren: Lynne, Eric, Evan (Molly), Jenna, Joseph (Maria), Jillian (Eric), Kelly, Cody, Ellen, Natalie, Brianna, Chynna, and Rocky; her precious great grandchildren: Solana, Leif, Cameron, and Benjamin; a brother and sister-in-law Albert J. and Norma LaMothe of New York, New York; and her sister and brother-in-law Pauline (Paradis) and Richard Wood of Goffstown, NH, and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grandnephews.

Services: Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a period of gathering from 11:00 A.M. to noon immediately followed by a memorial service at Phaneuf Funeral Home, 243 Hanover St. in Manchester, NH on Thursday, May 31, 2012. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests that expressions of sympathy be sent in Vivian I. Purselley's name to the Visiting Nurse Association of Manchester & Southern New Hampshire, Inc. 1070 Holt Avenue, Suite 1400, Manchester NH 03109. The family will forever be grateful to Dr. Mary Anne Totten and Dr. Consuelo Alvarez of Elliott Senior Health Primary Care and to the Visiting Nurses and Hospice caregivers for their excellent support of Vivian.