Colette Lotti-Purta

Raleigh - If you ever wanted to know how to clean a Turkey or a deer, or had a question about fine red wine Colette Lotti-Purta was the person that you asked. Colette (or Mama Coco to her grandkids) passed away on March 2nd 2014 at the young age of 59, her spirit is carried on by her 2 daughters, her husband, her 3 step-children, and 3 grandkids in addition to all the other extended family and friends that shared their life with her. Colette never knew a stranger, just friends that she had not met. Her laughter was contagious as her smile, and if you ever had the opportunity to share a glass of wine or a cup of coffee with her, you knew that you had met someone special. Colette of Libourne France was born in Bordeaux , France on August 24th 1954 to her parents Armand Gustave Lotti (the famous French Pilot of the Oiseau Canari, known widely as the first French aviator to accomplish a Trans-Atlantic flight) and Yvonne Caroly. She traveled to the US at age 19 and lived between the US and France for the following few years until she called US her permanent home, one of her proudest moments (other than the birth of her two daughters) was when she became a US citizen in 1986 . Having found the love of her life she married Michael Purta on January 10th 2002 and quickly became the model wife that any woman would aspire to be. We were all very grateful to know Colette, not only because of the wonderful person that she was, and the joy that she spread in our lives, but because she used all the moments in her life to share her wonderful experiences with us and took the time to teach us all a little bit about life. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons; some of the ones that come to mind are always stash a $20 bill in your cell phone case, so that you are never without emergency money. Always carry a pocket knife, you never know when you are going to need it, and of course one of our family favorites, keep old panty hose, it comes in handy when you need a make-shift filter. Colette will be missed by all of those that loved her and even if you only met her once you were sure to love her. She is survived by the love of her life, her husband, Michael Purta of Raleigh NC, and the two jewels of her eyes, daughters, Emily Jane Brown and Jessica Michelle Blischok, and their husbands, David Brown and Cody Blischok. She has 3 grandchildren that meant the world to her, Greyson Brown, Dawson Brown and her granddaughter, Bella Blischok; her stepsons Killian Purta and Michael Purta Jr., and her stepdaughter, Brienne Solange Purta. In addition, her Mother and Father in Law Alfred and Mary Rose Purta, her Sisters in Law Darlene Worthington and her husband Jean, Patricia Laufer and her husband Dwayne and Lorraine Purta and Brother in Law Kevin Purta and many other step nephews and nieces, and countless friends. Services are being held Saturday at 5:00pm, Bryan Lee Funeral Home, 1200 Benson Road, Garner NC 27529. If you would rather make a donation than contributing flowers please donate to the Wounded Warrior Project www.woundedwarriorproject.org