Obituary of Mary Margaret Purcell

Mary "Margaret" O'Boyle Purcell, age 91 of Harveys Lake, passed away Saturday, November 29 at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital after a brief illness. She was noted for being exceptionally spry for someone her age, so this is truly unexpected and sad to everyone who has known her. Margaret was born in Pittston on February 23, 1923, and was the daughter of the late James Francis and Margaret Dillon O'Boyle. Margaret was the sixth of eight children. She was the last remaining O'Boyle sibling. Margaret attended Marywood and College Misericordia, when she was forced, like many young women of her generation, to put her education on hold to help support her family during World War II. She was employed by the Veterans Administration during the war. That is where she would meet her future husband, William F. Purcell. She was his supportive wife and business partner until he died in June of 2000. Margaret was active in many organizations over the years, such as the Dallas Jr. Womens Club (Charter Member), Harveys Lake Womens Club, Our Lady of Victory Altar and Rosary Society, Republican Committee Chairman, Harveys Lake Council, Catholic Daughters, Lake Lehman Football Mothers and PTA. She was a member of Our Lady of Victory Church, Harveys Lake. Margaret loved swimming in her pool, walking her dog, feeding her birds, and socializing with her neighbors and family around the kitchen table. She will be deeply missed. In addition to her parents and husband, Margaret was preceded in death by her son Joseph Michael Purcell, her brothers Michael, Eugene, James, John and Robert O'Boyle, and sisters Catherine Ryan and Eileen O'Boyle. She is survived by her oldest Son, William F. Purcell of Harveys Lake, Son Jim Purcell and his wife Cindy of Covington Township, and daughter Margaret Smith and her husband Russell of Carlisle Pa, and grandchildren Michael, Erin and Maura Smith of Carlisle, and Kathryn and Jack Purcell of Covington Township. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 10 a.m. from the Curtis L. Swanson Funeral Home, Inc., corner of routes 29 & 118, Pikes Creek, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. from the Our Lady of Victory Church, Harveys Lake, with Rev. Daniel Toomey officiating. Friends may call 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will be in St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow.