Sister Tomas PURNELL

PURNELL, OSBORNE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/20/2009 at 08:57:11

Sister Tomas Purnell, OP, died May 3, 2009. Professed in 1950, Sr. Tomas taught at St. Brendan, Chicago; St. Gall, Milwaukee, WI; St. Mary, East Dubuque, IL; St. Sabina, Chicago; St. Jarlath, Chicago; St. Jerome, Columbus, WI; and Sacred Heart, Eagle Grove, IA. She lived in community at St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque and Sinsinawa, and the Motherhouse. May she rest in peace.

http://www.sinsinawa.org/09_News/Sister_Obituaries.htm

****************************************************
Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa
May 5, 2009

SINSINAWA, Wis. -- Sister Tomas Purnell OP, 78, of St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, died Sunday, May 3, 2009, at St. Dominic Villa. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 6, at Queen of the Rosary Chapel, Dominican Motherhouse, Sinsinawa. Burial will be in the Motherhouse Cemetery. Friends may call after 5:15 p.m. today at the Gathering Place, at the Motherhouse, where there will be a vigil service and rosary recited at 6:30 p.m. The Leonard Funeral Home, 2595 Rockdale Road, Dubuque, is in charge of arrangements.

Sister Tomas was a teacher, serving 12 years in elementary education. Her ministry took her to Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. She lived in community at St. Dominic Villa, Dubuque and Sinsinawa, and the Motherhouse.

She was born on Feb. 12, 1931, in Omaha, Neb., daughter of Jesse and Bonnie (Osborne) Purnell. She made her first profession of vows on Aug. 5, 1950. Surviving are three sisters; a brother; nieces; nephews; and the Dominican Sisters with whom she shared life for 58 years.