Phyllis Ann Purtell (Faley)
May 17, 1939 — January 19, 2011
Phyllis Ann Faley Purtell, 71, of Marion, died Wednesday, January 19, 2011, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House in Hiawatha. Funeral Mass: 11 a.m., Monday, January 24, 2011, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion. Family will greet friends from 1-4 p.m. Sunday, January 23, 2011, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion and one hour prior to services Monday at the church. Graveside Committal: 2:30 p.m., Monday, Mt. Calvary Cemetery Chapel, Dubuque.
Survivors include her husband, James; children, Michael (Stephanie) Purtell of Maple Valley, WA, Ellen (William) Spencer of Dubuque, and John (Jennifer) Purtell of Spokane, WA; 7 grandchildren; siblings, Howard (Dorothy) Faley of Freeport, IL, Jack (Kay) Faley of Placentia, CA, and Wayne (Mary) Faley of Oceanside, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Eileen Schilling.
Phyllis was born May 17, 1939, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of proud Irish parents, Mike and Marcella (McClain) Faley. She attended the Visitation Academy, and graduated from Clarke College, both in Dubuque. She then received her Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Northern Colorado. On June 15, 1963, Phyllis was united in marriage to James E. Purtell at the Nativity Parish in Dubuque. She worked as an elementary teacher and school librarian for 34 years in the Marion Independent School District. Upon her retirement, she and Jim moved to Door County, Wisconsin, where she displayed her creative talents through watercolor painting and decorating.
Special thanks to Dr. Wiesenfeld, Oncology Associates (especially Lori, Marsha, & Nicole) and Mercy Hospice (especially Tracy & Annette).
Please sign our online guestbook for Phyllis at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
Survivors include her husband, James; children, Michael (Stephanie) Purtell of Maple Valley, WA, Ellen (William) Spencer of Dubuque, and John (Jennifer) Purtell of Spokane, WA; 7 grandchildren; siblings, Howard (Dorothy) Faley of Freeport, IL, Jack (Kay) Faley of Placentia, CA, and Wayne (Mary) Faley of Oceanside, CA.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Eileen Schilling.
Phyllis was born May 17, 1939, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of proud Irish parents, Mike and Marcella (McClain) Faley. She attended the Visitation Academy, and graduated from Clarke College, both in Dubuque. She then received her Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Northern Colorado. On June 15, 1963, Phyllis was united in marriage to James E. Purtell at the Nativity Parish in Dubuque. She worked as an elementary teacher and school librarian for 34 years in the Marion Independent School District. Upon her retirement, she and Jim moved to Door County, Wisconsin, where she displayed her creative talents through watercolor painting and decorating.
Special thanks to Dr. Wiesenfeld, Oncology Associates (especially Lori, Marsha, & Nicole) and Mercy Hospice (especially Tracy & Annette).
Please sign our online guestbook for Phyllis at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.
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