Rev. Richard Purcell
Beloved Clergyman Who Has been Transferred to Another Field of Labor
Utica Saturday Globe, November 1915
Rev. Richard Purcell
For 12 years Rev. Richard Purcell has served as pastor of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church at Oxford [Chenango Co., NY] and during that time has been a faithful laborer for the benefit of his church and parishioners. The announcement that he had been transferred by Bishop Grimes to Pulaski, Oswego county, caused much regret, not only among his own church people, but to many friends in nearby places where he had become well known and greatly respected.
Father Purcell came to Oxford in 1903 when the church there was heavily in debt, and through his efforts leaves the church and society free of all incumbrancers. A cemetery debt has also been paid and the cemetery has been enlarged and put in good condition. It was also through his efforts that the W.R.C. Home has a Catholic cemetery. He has had charge of the mission at Greene [Chenango Co., NY], of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, where he has built up the congregation and caused the building to be repaired and kept in excellent condition.
Father Purcell pursued his classical studies in Holy Cross College at Worcester, Mass., graduating in 1894 with high honors. He went abroad for his theological studies, entering the University of Louvain, in Belgium, one of the oldest institutions of learning in the world. He was ordained there June 29, 1898. The following three months he spent in traveling through Europe and later came back to America. Upon his arrival he was assigned to Syracuse, where he was assistant to Father Dougherty at St. Vincent de Paul's Church for one year. He then went to Utica and was assistant at St. John's. A short time before the death of President McKinley, Father Purcell was tendered an appointment as chaplain in the navy, but remained in Utica. He is a fine linguist and can speak seven or eight different languages.
Father Purcell's successor at Oxford is Rev. Theodore Provost, for nearly 15 years pastor of St. John's Evangelistic Catholic Church at Pulaski.
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Men of Mark in the Parish of the Binghamton Press
Binghamton Press, October 16, 1904
Rev. Richard Purcell
Loved because of his lovable qualities and esteemed because of his broad catholic spirit and humble earnestness in charities, Rev. Father Purcell of Oxford holds a place dear in the hearts of his congregation.
Ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in Louvain, Belgium, where he completed his ecclesiastical education in 1898, Father Purcell returned to this country and became assistant pastor of St. Vincent de Paul's Church in Syracuse. His connection with that church was for a year, when he became associated with St. John's Church in Utica, remaining there for three years, and then being transferred to Oxford. he ahs been a diligent laborer in church fields and has built up his pastorate until it is now on a thoroughly substantial basis.
He is a broad-minded, public spirited priest and has a host of friends and admirers outside of his own religious flock.
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Obituaries
Norwich Sun, September 9, 1918
The following taken from a Syracuse paper, will come as a shock to the many friends of Rev. Richard Purcell. Father Purcell was in charge of the parish at Oxford for many years, and during that time he had made many warm friends in Norwich, who will deeply regret his sudden death. Rev. Richard Purcell, 47, pastor of St. Margaret's church, died at 5 o'clock Sunday morning in the Homer hospital, following an operation performed Saturday. Father Purcell had been in poor health for some time, but was able to say mass Friday morning and went about the streets attending to his duties. An attack Saturday alarmed his friends and he was taken to the hospital, where the physicians decided on an immediate operation, and although he stood the shock well, he was so weakened that he could not rally.
Cortland Standard, September 9, 1918
The people of Homer and vicinity were shocked and saddened Sunday morning at the death of Rev. Richard Purcell, minister of St. Margaret's Catholic church of Homer [Cortland Co., NY] and of the Catholic churches of Marathon and Solon. Father Purcell has been in ill health for some months, but was feeling usually well Saturday morning and celebrated mass at the funeral of Miss Mary Sullivan, at 9:30 o'clock. Later in the morning he was around town as usual, but was taken suddenly ill and hastened to the parochial residence where the illness developed into a severe hemorrhage of the stomach ..... Medical aid was summoned, but as nothing seemed to bring relief, it was decided as a last resort that an operation was necessary. The patient was taken to the Cortland hospital and an operation was performed Saturday evening, but the malady proved to be of too serious a nature for recovery, and Father Purcell passed away quietly at 5 o'clock Sunday morning, Sept. 8. Since coming to St. Margaret's church in December, 1915, Father Purcell has endeared himself to his church people and to the community. He was known as an unassuming man, but was greatly esteemed and liked for his manliness, his Christian spirit and his intense patriotism. Deeply concerned about the war and the boys in service, he has done all that he could to arouse a patriotic spirit in others, and to help his boys by regular correspondence with many of them. A faithful ally to the Red Cross, the workers have found him always courteous, helpful and loyal. He will be greatly missed, not only by his own church people but by many others who were always cheered by his friendly greeting. Rev. Richard Purcell was born in Thuries, Tipperary, Ireland, in 1871. He came to this country when a young lad, and received his early education in the public schools of Boston. He obtained his university degree at Louvaine university, Belgium, and after returning to this country, was pastor at St. Vincent de Paul, Syracuse, assistant priest at St. John's Utica, priest at Oxford and Greene, and for a short time before coming to Homer he had charge of the work in Pulaski. A brother and sister are expected form Springfield, Mass. today. The remains will be taken from the residence to St. Margaret's church Tuesday evening at 7:30 o'clock. At 10 Wednesday morning the Office will be recited by the priest of the diocese and will be followed by the mass which will be said by Bishop Grimes of Syracuse. The remains will be taken to Springfield for burial.
Homer Republican, September 12, 1918
Rev. Richard Purcell, pastor of St. Margaret's church, died at the Homer hospital at 5 o'clock Sunday morning following an operation performed Saturday night. His age was 47 years.
Father Purcell had been in poor health for some time but had been able to be about and perform his duties as pastor of St. Margaret's church of this village and of St. Patrick's church of Truxton and few beside his intimate friends and church people knew but that his health was fairly good. He was around town as usual Friday and was feeling unusually well. Saturday morning he said he had not slept well during the night. He officiated at a funeral Saturday forenoon and upon his return home he complained of feeling ill and later suffered from severe hemorrhages.
Dr. Lucid of Cortland was called and thought that his trouble was due to ulceration of the stomach and advised an operation at once. The patient was taken to the Homer hospital at 6 o'clock where the operation was performed Saturday night about 9 o'clock by Dr. M.M. Lucid assisted by Dr. L.E. Gardner. The operation showed that Father Purcell's illness was due to gastric ulcers of the stomach which caused the hemorrhages and that there was also a cancerous condition of the liver. Although he rallied partially from the shock of the operation, his strength was insufficient to sustain him and he passed away at 5:20 Sunday morning.
Father Purcell came to Homer about three years ago to serve as pastor of St. Margaret's church here and of St. Patrick's church in Truxton. He had previously served as pastor at Oxford and before that had been connected with St Vincent De Paul church, Syracuse, and St. John's Utica.
He was a man of genial disposition, liberal, broad-minded Christian spirit and kindly ways and he endeared himself to his church people whom he served faithfully, and made many friends among Homer people outside his own parishioners and his sudden death brings sincere sorrow and regret to many.
Father Purcell was born in Thuries County, Tipperary, Ireland. He came to America when a boy and received his early education in the public schools of Boston, Mass., and later attended Louvaine university in Belgium and was ordained to the priesthood in that country about 20 years ago. After returning to America he served as stated above, coming to Homer from Pulaski where he was in charge of the Catholic parish for a short time after leaving Oxford.
He is survived by a brother and a sister who reside in Springfield, Mass. and by other relatives in Ireland. The remains were taken from the parochial residence to St. Margaret's church Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning the funeral was held there at 10 o'clock, the Office being recited by Rev. Patrick Donohoe, pastor of St. Mary's catholic church of Cortland, followed by Mass said by Bishop Grimes of Syracuse. The remains were taken to Springfield, Mass. for burial. The curtains of Homer business places were drawn during the funeral out of respect to the memory of Father Purcell.
[Buried St. Michael's Cemetery, Springfield, Massachusetts]
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