Hollace Purcaro

Naugatuck, CT Hollace L. “Holly” (Montgomery) Purcaro, 70, life partner of John DeBarrows, passed away peacefully on July 26, 2018 at St. Mary’s Hospital after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

Hollace was born on March 18, 1948 in Waterbury, CT a daughter of the late Wendell and Lucille (Stewart) Montgomery. She grew up in Middlebury and graduated from Naugatuck High School. Hollace worked at Preston Hill Inn before leaving to pursue her desire to be an entrepreneur. She was extremely talented with creating wedding cake masterpieces, and ultimately with ownership of the Sugar Loaf Bakery in Naugatuck and Waterbury. Hollace left the bakery business to pursue her passion for handcrafts, and opened Home Accents in Naugatuck. Unfortunately, her passionate work came to an end due to a medical disability of rheumatoid arthritis.

Hollace is survived by her daughter, Jessalyn Pito and her husband John of Middletown; her son, Michael Purcaro and his wife, Noelene of Las Vegas, NV; her grandchildren, Adam and his wife Crystal, Kyndal; her great granddaughter, Alexis; her sisters, Deborah Murray and her husband, Raymond of Naugatuck, Maureen Densmore and her husband, Lawrence of Morris and her brother, Wendell Montgomery of Naugatuck and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Hollace was predeceased by her sister, Lynn Ring.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday at 10:00am at St. John of the Cross Church, Middlebury. Everyone is kindly asked to go directly to church. Burial will follow in Lake Elise Cemetery, Middlebury. Calling hours are Tuesday from 5:00 to 8:00pm at the Buckmiller Thurston Mengacci Funeral Home, 82 Fairview Avenue, Naugatuck. In lieu of flowers and to honor Hollace’s memory, contributions can be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 5028, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5028.