Submitted by: Dan Rich
July 22, 1920 - June 16, 2008
South Bend Tribune 6/17/2008
SOUTH BEND - Sister M. Stephen (Maybelle Elizabeth Purcell),
CSC, 87, was born in Salt Lake City, UT, to the late Phil
James Purcell and Maybelle Tobin Purcell. She was the fifth child
of eight, all of whom have predeceased her, including Sister
Philippa, CSC, her sister in Holy Cross. Sister is survived
by her brother-in-law, Art Cornwell of California; nieces,
Ann Purcell Perini of California, Joan Slattery of
Minnesota, Barbara Jennings of Washington and Marian Anderson
of Oregon; and a nephew, Michael Purcell of Arkansas.
Sister's many cousins and friends will miss her.
Before entering the Sisters of the Holy Cross in 1940, Sister was a student and graduated from Saint Mary of the Wasatch Academy in 1937. She earned her bachelor of arts from Saint Mary of the Wasatch College in 1946 and her master's in science from Creighton University in 1951. Sister was an elementary teacher in the Western states of Utah, Washington and California for 13 years, and moved to high school teaching for 29 years, finishing her time in schools as receptionist and hostess and office manager at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA. Sister was active in the Ministry of Prayer until her death.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of the Holy Cross Ministry with the Poor Fund, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Reception of the body and wake service will be Wednesday, June 18, at 4 p.m. in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN. Funeral service will be Thursday, June 19, at 10:30 a.m. in the Church of Our Lady of Loretto, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, IN. Kaniewski Funeral Home is handling arrangements.