Sally Cann Purrazzella

Sally Cann Purrazzella

Toms River

Sally Cann Purrazzella, died peacefully Wednesday, April 27, 2011. She was born in Oregon, Illinois and the second of four children of the late Morris and Marjorie Cann. She graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1965 and moved to New Jersey, where she began to work for AT&T in New York City. Her job there involved processing changes in stock certificates for the estates of deceased shareholders. This exposure to legal matters caused her to consider the practice of law as a career. She applied and was admitted to Seton Hall University Law School. Sally could not accommodate her work schedule at AT&T with her law school schedule, so she quit her job and for the next several years, worked her way through law school by waitressing and bartending. Beside her four children, the achievement she was most proud of was her graduation from Seton Hall Law School and admission to the Bar in New Jersey in 1976. In 1978, she relocated to Toms River to accept a position as an associate in the Law Office of John Blake. There, she met her future husband, Joseph. In 1979, she and Joseph married, and in 1980, they started their own law firm in Toms River. Women lawyers in private practice were still a relatively novel idea at that time and Sally quickly found herself in demand representing women in family law matters. Sally continued to practice with Joseph as a partner and owner of the law firm of Purrazzella and Purrazzella in Toms River until her death. She specialized in matrimonial and bankruptcy law. Despite the demands of her law practice, Sally found time to raise four children, Matthew, Catie, Amanda and Michael. She was intensely proud of all of them. Sally enjoyed activities that centered on the home. When the children were younger, she would organize neighborhood Easter egg hunts at the Purrazzella household that would involve several dozen children from the neighborhood or from school and their parents. There was also an annual Christmas party where Santa would attend and distribute gifts to the neighborhood kids. One time during a raging blizzard, she invited the entire neighborhood for an impromptu snowstorm party. Sally loved to decorate the home elaborately for the holidays. Her Halloween decorations were often reported in local newspapers. Whenever she tried to explain to someone where she lived she would often say simply "The house with all the decorations" and invariably they would know where she meant. Sally was an animal lover. The Purrazzella household was always filled with an assortment of dogs, cats, turtles, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, snakes, and ferrets. Sally had several other passions. Travel was one of them. She and Joseph were regular visitors to St Thomas in the Virgin Islands. They owned a condominium there for several years and enjoyed the opportunity to "chill" in the warm Caribbean sun. They also traveled extensively through Europe and the U.S. Sally was blessed with a beautiful singing voice. She enjoyed singing immensely and was a member of several choirs. During her visits to St. Thomas, she would often be invited to sing with her friend, Gray Burelson, who was a local entertainer. She enjoyed singing standards from the 40's and 50's while Gray played the piano. Sally was a big fan of Michael Feinstein. On one occasion, she attended his performance at his supper club in New York City. There were approximately 250 people in the room. At one point, Michael invited the audience to join him in a song. Later, Sally and Joseph had an opportunity to go backstage and meet him. When he was introduced to Sally, his face brightened and he said "Oh you're the soprano!"

Sally is survived by her husband, Joseph; her four children, Matthew, Catie, Amanda and Michael; her sister, Julie Delbert; her mother-in-law, Rose Purrazzella; her sister-in-law Patricia Proniewski; and her brothers-in-law, Edward Proniewski and Donald Delbert. Sally is also survived by several nieces and nephews, Suzanne, Nicholas, Phillip, Jonathan, Jennnifer and Caroline. Special friends of Sally who will miss her terribly are Lynne and Randy Long and Donna and Frank Purpura.

Visiting will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, May 1 at the Silverton Memorial Funeral Home, 2482 Church Road, Toms River. A mass of Christian Burial will be 11:15 a.m. Monday, May 2 at St. Luke's R.C. Church; arrive at the funeral home 10 a.m. Cremation private.