Purugganan, Anita C. (1930-2007)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2007 Jun 25 p. 8

Birth date: 1930 Oct 6

text of obituary:

Anita C. Purugganan, 76, died June 6, 2007, at Arkansas Valley Nursing Care Center in La Junta, Colo. She was born Oct. 6, 1930, to Adolph and Cruz (Petrita) Purugganan in New York, N.Y.

She graduated from Eastern Mennonite High School, Harrisonburg, Va. She received an X-ray technician license at Presbyterian Hospital in Denver and worked at both Presbyterian Hospital and La Junta Mennonite Hospital. She was employed as a nurse to Dr. Richard L. Davis for 21 years.

She was a volunteer with the hospital auxiliary, helping with the candy cart, delivering mail, water flowers and filling vending machines. She delivered Meals on Wheels, took people to appointments and shopping and took care of houses and pets and doing yard work. Her great love was music. She played the piano and would lead the singing at lodge meetings and sang for funerals and weddings. She was active in directing church choirs and singing in community choruses and groups. She was an active member of First Christian Church of La Junta, serving as the organist and choir director and in many other capacities.

She was the recipient of the Community Sunshine Award in 1999. She was chosen the Silver Queen for Arkansas Valley Fair 2006. Her infectious smile and humor will be greatly missed.

Survivors include four sisters, Emily Shenk of Sarasota, Fla., Grace Hostetter of Hickory, N.C., Miriam Nissley and her husband, Lowell, of Sarasota, Fla., and Peggy Shenk and her husband, Michael, of Harrisonburg, Va.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Leasa.

Memorial services were held at First Christian Church of La Junta.