Mary Catherine Purcell

Mary Catherine Purcell, 87 of South Sioux City, Nebraska died Monday, October 12, 2009 at Regency Square Care Center in South Sioux City following a brief illness.Funeral Services will be at 10:30 A.M. on Friday, October 16, 2009 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in South Sioux City with Father Dan Wittrock officiating. Burial will be in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery in rural South Sioux City, Nebraska. Visitation will begin at 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 15, 2009 at the Mohr Funeral Home, 1431 W. 29th Street in South Sioux City, with the family present at 5:30 P.M., a rosary at 6:30 P.M. and scriptural wake service at 7:00 P.M. Online condolences may be sent at www.mohrfuneralhome.com.Mary was born February 14, 1922 in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Clarence G.and Anna (Pierson) Brownson. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in Des Moines in 1938 and went on to graduate from nursing school at Garfield Park Hospital in Maywood, Illinois as a registered nurse in 1943. She married Frank Edward Purcell on November 22, 1945 in Chicago. Frank died on April 8, 2002. From 1945 to 1964 Mary traveled with her husband, who was in the U.S. Air Force band. In 1960 Mary and Frank adopted their two children, Michael Angelo and Maria Carmen from Madrid, Spain. After Frank's retirement the family moved to Minnesota and Mary worked at Weiner Memorial Hospital in Marshall, Minnesota. In 1972 the family moved to Granville, Iowa, where Mary worked as a school nurse part time before retiring in 1980.Mary was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church and she was active in the American Legion Auxiliary for many years.She is survived by a daughter, Maria Kennedy of Des Moines, Iowa; a son, Michael Angelo Purcell of Torrance, California; six grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a brother, Patrick Brownson of Tuscan, Arizona, and many nieces and nephews.Mary was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Thomas and Clarence Brownson.