Mary Elizabeth Purnell (age 89), beloved wife, mother, grandma, aunty and great-grandma of Helena, MT passed away peacefully April 29, 2024, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, MT with family at her side after a sudden illness. Mary was born April 3, 1935, to Vincent and Martha Daly in Great Falls, MT.
Mary grew up in a farmhouse along the Sun River in Great Falls with her folks and six siblings. She graduated from Great Falls Central Catholic High School, moved to Seattle and worked as a telephone operator and briefly lived with family on Balboa Island, CA. While back home in Great Falls for a friend’s wedding, fate brought her and Richard J. Purnell together again and they married soon after. Their love story actually began as young children playing together on the ore hills of Butte, MT where their families lived next door to one another in Centerville. Richard “Dick” and Mary recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary together as lifelong partners – it was always special to see them dance to their song, “I Believe in You” by Don Williams.
As Dick and Mary made a life together, they were quickly blessed with four daughters Shanna, Cheri, Valerie and Mary Sue “Susie”. We remember mom’s side of the bed as a safe haven after having a bad dream, comforting us when we were ill and was an expert hugger when life took difficult turns. Life was shattered in 1968 when Shanna passed into Heaven at seven years old, however Mary’s Catholic faith never faltered and remained strong throughout her life. In recent years, many asked her to include prayers for others who were sick or hospitalized during her daily rosary with her beloved dog, Pansey, who was born on Shanna’s birthday.
Mary was a true Montana girl from riding her Palomino horse as a child, fishing or hunting with Dick or dirt biking with her kids on many campouts or at the family cabin in Lincoln. She was a talented homemaker and used her sewing, cooking and decorating skills to make our home beautiful and welcoming to others. She passed these talents on to other youth as a 4-H leader, was an enthusiastic cheerleader during track and swim meets and had an amazing singing voice she joyfully shared in church.
Mary worked outside the home at Coast-to-Coast, KQDI Radio and Bison Ford after her children were grown. She and Dick were blessed to live on the Missouri River for 17 years where they spent time birdwatching, enjoying neighborhood games and living the Montana dream. Their yard along the river was filled with flowers and fruit trees – one day dad surprised mom by giving her the largest bouquet ever as he mowed a patch of daisies into a heart shape for her. They moved to a happy home in the Helena valley in 2005 to spend more time with family and were blessed with wonderful neighbors. They often went on trips to Wendover and Laughlin, NV to try their luck and enjoyed many Sunday breakfasts out with family and friends.
Mom was a member of St. Cyril & Methodius Catholic Church, the Dearborn Garden Club, the Helena Red Hats Society and was a long-time supporter of the Poor Clares of Montana monastery in Great Falls. Many people have described Mary as a classy lady and we wholeheartedly agree – she was beautiful on the inside and out and we will miss her very much.
Mary was preceded in death by her daughter Shanna Marie, parents Vincent and Julia Daly, in-laws Jack and Della Purnell, siblings Dorothy Thompson, William Daly, Vincent Daly, Henry Daly, Martha Holland and Patricia Schilla and many extended family members and dear friends. She is survived by her husband Richard, her daughters Cheri (Bill) Rivers, Valerie Purnell and Susie (Paul) Didriksen, her grandchildren Dallas (Bonnie) Burner, Shanelle (Justin) Forty, James Didriksen, Camille Seed, Candace (Zach) Radovich, and Colton Didriksen, along with five great grandchildren Urijah, Elijah and Love’ Burner, Willow Forty, and Carter Radovich and many treasured nieces and nephews too numerous to list.
We would like to express our deep appreciation to the talented staff of Benefis Hospital, Father Dave Wilkins and the staff and volunteers at Peace Hospice of Great Falls for their exceptional care and compassion during Mary’s final days – we are forever grateful for all of you.
A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N Montana Ave., Helena, MT 59602 on Saturday, June 22, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. A reception will follow at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to Lewis and Clark Humane Society in Helena. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Mary.
Service Schedule
Funeral Service
1:00 PM
Saturday June 22, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, MT 59602
Reception
Following the funeral service
Saturday June 22, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, MT 59602
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Jeff & Bobbi Hoffer says
Mary and Dick have been our neighbor and friends for 19 years. The loss of Mary breaks our heart.
We will always cherish the memory of her smile, her kindness, her talent of seeing outside of box with crafts and most anything else. I worked with her on a few home improvement projects and was always surprised by how much thought she put into each and every one of them. We really enjoyed her company and stories she shared.
She will be greatly missed!
Rich snd Sussn Proul says
Cheri and family…we are so very sorry for your loss. Keep all your memories close in your hearts and she will always be with you. May she rest in eternal peace 💜
Sheila Hill says
I have fond memories of working with Mary decorating at OLV for Christmas and other celebrations. She was a talented seamstress and someone I considered a dear friend.
David Freer says
She truly is a great spirit. She praised God through thick and thin! Her faith never faltered. She was always a pleasure to be around or just talk on the phone with. Praise God! Sge can hold Shanna in her arms once again! I love you Aunty’ Mary!
Sonny Silverthorne says
Purnell family,
Since three girls who wanted to ride a Shetland Poney in 1971 our families have become one. Uncle Dick and Mary have been two of my favorite people on this planet. My grandparents hosted pinnacle and poker nights with Mary and Dick. Hearing the news of her passing has broken the hearts of the entire Silverthorne and Sitch family.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Uncle Dick and our cousins Cheri, Val, and Suzi and all of their families.
Love you Sonny