Mary Devaney Purcell

Mary Devaney Purcell, 98, a lifelong resident of Carbondale, entered into eternal rest on Monday December 10th at Hospice of the Sacred Heart, Dunmore.  She was the widow of Francis J. Purcell, who died in 1957.

Born in Carbondale, the only child of the late Thomas and Winifred Murray Devaney, she was a graduate of St. Rose Academy, Carbondale, Class of 1939, and the St. Thomas Business School, Archbald.  For more than forty years, she was employed as a secretary at Pennsylvania Gas and Water Company in the Carbondale office where she was known for her pleasant and cheerful personality.  In June of 1949, she married the love of her life, Francis J. Purcell, only to be widowed at the young age of thirty-seven, after which she devoted herself to the care and support of her mother.

A lifelong devoted parishioner of St. Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale, she was a member of its Altar and Rosary Society; she was also a member of the Ladies’ Ancient Order of Hibernians, Carbondale.

Mary is survived only by a few cousins, her dear lifelong closest friend, Claire Conmy, and a multitude of friends.  She is truly a representative of the “greatest generation” and one of the “thousand points of light” has been extinguished just when it is needed most.

The funeral will be Thursday, December 13th with a Mass of Christian of Christian Burial at 9:30 am in Saint Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale.  Interment, St. Rose Cemetery, Carbondale.  Arrangements are by the Brennan & Brennan Funeral Home, Inc., 55 Lincoln Ave., Carbondale.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 100 William St., Dunmore, PA 18510, or a charity of the donor’s choice.

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