Charles Paul Puricelli Sr.

A lifelong resident of St. Louis, he lived a full and devoted life centered around family, faith, and community.

Born on November 15, 1927, in St. Louis, Charlie graduated from Southwest High School, located on Kingshighway and Arsenal. At age 18, he was drafted into the United States Army in 1945 following the end of World War II and served during the occupation of Japan. He spent five years there teaching fellow servicemen how to bake—a skill that would remain a lifelong passion. He often reflected on his Army years as “the best years of his life.” He was honorably discharged in 1950.

That same year, Charlie met the love of his life, Georgia Patricia (née Stickney), at the Casa Loma Ballroom on Cherokee Street. They were married in 1950 and shared 42 years together until her passing in 1993.

Charlie spent the majority of his working years as a Chemical Operator at Mallinckrodt Chemical Works, retiring in 1991. Even while working full-time, he continued his love of baking, a craft rooted in his early years working in his family’s bakery. His parents owned Quality Bakery for many years in “The Hill” neighborhood of St. Louis, where Charlie worked as a young man. He later became well known among family, friends, and neighbors for his wedding and birthday cakes, as well as the breads, rolls, pies, and cookies he generously prepared for holidays and special occasions.

Growing up, his children remember summer road trips to the beaches in the Florida panhandle, a backyard garden full of homegrown tomatoes, Christmases with plenty of presents, and Easters with a cake in the shape of sheep with white coconut “fleece,” and green dyed coconut “grass.”

A man of deep faith, Charlie was a longtime parishioner of St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church in St. Louis. During his retirement he became an avid painter, and enjoyed playing pinochle with friends, first at the Lyle Mansion in Carondelet Park and later at the local YMCA, where their penny games continued for years.

Charlie was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Georgia Patricia (née Stickney) (1930–1993); his parents, John Puricelli (1888–1971) and Agnes (née Binaghi) Puricelli (1892–1963), both immigrants from Arconate, Italy; and his four siblings, Michael Puricelli (Rose), Josephine Quest (Leonard), Louis Puricelli (Billie Jo), and Mary Guelker (Lester).

He is survived by his three sons, Charles Paul Puricelli, Jr., John Michael Puricelli (Elisabeth Neff), and James Milo Puricelli (Adam Lazar); his former daughter-in-law Judy Lambert; his granddaughters, Joy Alesha Horn (Brad) and Grace Lazar Puricelli; and his great-grandson, Max Alexander Strub.

Charlie will be remembered for his generosity, dedication to family, and the joy he brought to others through his baking, painting, and his steady presence.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, April 1 from 9-11am at Hoffmeister Colonial Mortuary, 6464 Chippewa Street 63109. A Funeral Service will follow at 11am at the funeral home. Rite of Committal at Resurrection Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to the Humane Society of Missouri https://hsmo.org/ or the Greater St. Louis Honor Flight (transporting veterans to memorials).https://gslhonorflight.org/

Please leave a fond memory of Charlie for his family to cherish at the "Add a Memory" link below.