A Mass of Christian Burial for Sister Marion Purpura, D.C., was celebrated Feb. 16, 2015, at Seton Residence Chapel in Evansville, Ind. Burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery in Evansville. Sister Marion died Feb. 13 at 79 years of age at Seton Residence.
Born Jan. 15, 1936, in Chicago, Ill., Sister Marion (baptized Marion Irene Purpura) was one of nine children born to John Matthew and Rose (Brennan) Purpura. She was a 1953 graduate of St. Patrick High School in Chicago. Sister earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in history and education from Marillac College in Normandy, Mo., in 1965.
Sister Marion entered the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul in St. Louis, Mo., in September of 1954. Her sister, Vera, also joined the Community. After initial formation, she began a long teaching career at St. Patrick School in St. Louis (1956–1958); St. Stephen School in New Orleans, La. (1958–1965); Holy Trinity School in Dallas, Texas (1965–1970); St. Francis de Sales School in Lake Zurich, Ill. (1970–1972); St. Barnabas School in Birmingham, Ala. (1972–1978); and St. James the Major School, Prichard, Ala. (1978–1979). She then served as a school secretary at St. Louise de Marillac High School in Northfield, Ill. (1979–1983). Sister served as a parish minister for Catholic Charities in Walls, Miss. (1983–1985). She then served in clerical ministry at Mater Dei Provincialate in Evansville (1985–1989). Her next two ministries were as a pastoral care associate at St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital in Chicago (1989–1990) and St. Mary’s Medical Center in Saginaw, Mich. (1990–1995). Sister then served in three Chicago ministries: as school librarian at Our Lady of the Gardens School (1995–1997), parish minister at St. Mary of the Assumption (1997–2003), and a volunteer at Our Lady of the Gardens (2003–2006). In September of 2006, Sister Marion entered the Ministry of Prayer at Seton Residence in Evansville, where she served until the time of her death.
Sister Marion was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Sister Vera Purpura, D.C.; and her brothers, Tom (Joan), and Matthew (Janet). She is survived by her sister, Rose Ann (John) Melody; her brothers, Jim (Janet), Frank, Joseph and Eddy; many nieces and nephews; and her Sisters in Community.