Mary Purcell

September 29, 1941 – August 20, 2016

Published in Connors Funeral Home Website August 26, 2016

Mary C. Purcell died suddenly before dawn on Saturday August 20, at St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, Rhode Island after a long illness from pancreatic cancer.

Mary was born in Boston in 1941, the daughter of the late Warren R. and Catherine M. Purcell, and had been a resident of Portsmouth, RI, since 2007.

A graduate of the College of New Rochelle, Mary was an editor for her entire professional life, working first in book publishing, at Little, Brown & Co. in Boston, and then for many years at several computer software companies in the Boston area including Cullinet, Powersoft, SilverStream, and Ab Initio. Mary was acclaimed for her skills in conceiving improvements in writings and suggesting them in ways that writers appreciated.

Mary was an enthusiastic sketcher and watercolorist and enjoyed spending time outdoors and with her many friends. She and her husband also devoted time and effort to assisting poor farmers in a mountain village in Guatemala. Mary will be remembered for her uniquely compelling appreciation of nature and art.

Mary is survived by her beloved husband, Juan A. Diaz-Barrera, her dear brother Dick (W. R. Purcell, Jr.) of Leadville CO, and her dear nephew, Loren D. Purcell of Minneapolis. She was preceded in death by her dear brother David J. Purcell.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am at the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Rd. in Portsmouth, on Saturday, August 27. All whose lives Mary touched are cordially invited to attend.

Burial will be private.

Calling hours will be held Saturday morning from 10:30 to 11:30 in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to the St. Francis Breadline (St. Francis Monastery: the Breadline of the Poor, Inc., 135 W. 31st St., New York, NY 10001)

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Published in the Boston Globe on August 25, 2016

PURCELL, Mary C. Died suddenly before dawn on Saturday August 20, at St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, Rhode Island. Mary is survived by her beloved husband, Juan A. Diaz-Barrera. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 am at the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Rd. in PORTSMOUTH, on Saturday, August 27. All whose lives Mary touched are cordially invited to attend. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be held Saturday morning from 10:30 to 11:30. For information go to www.memorialfuneralhome.com

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Published in the Boston Herald on August 25, 2016

PURCELL Mary C. died suddenly before dawn on Saturday August 20, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Manor in Bristol, Rhode Island.

Mary was born in Boston in 1941, the daughter of the late Warren R. and Catherine M. Purcell, and had been a resident of Portsmouth, RI, since 2007. A graduate of the College of New Rochelle, Mary was an editor for her entire professional life, working first in book publishing, at Little, Brown & Co. in Boston, and then for many years at several computer software companies in the Boston area including Cullinet, Powersoft, SilverStream, and Ab Initio. Mary was acclaimed for her skills in conceiving improvements in writings and suggesting them in ways that writers appreciated.

Mary was an enthusiastic sketcher and watercolorist and enjoyed spending time outdoors and with her many friends. She and her husband also devoted time and effort to assisting poor farmers in a mountain village in Guatemala. Mary will be remembered for her uniquely compelling appreciation of nature and art.

Mary is survived by her beloved husband, Juan A. Diaz-Barrera, her dear brother Dick (W. R. Purcell, Jr.) of Leadville CO, and her dear nephew, Loren D. Purcell of Minneapolis. She was preceded in death by her dear brother David J. Purcell.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 A.M. at the Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road in PORTSMOUTH, on Saturday, August 27. All whose lives Mary touched are cordially invited to attend. Burial will be private. Calling hours will be held Saturday morning from 10:30 A.M. to 11:30 A.M. in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to the St. Francis Breadline (St. Francis Monastery: the Breadline of the Poor, Inc., 135 W. 31st St., New York, NY 10001) [www.stfrancisbreadline.org].

For information go to www.memorialfuneralhome.com See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonherald/obituary.