Robert Joseph Purcell
Born In: Sydney, Nova Scotia
Passed in: Sydney, Nova Scotia
Passed on: July 15th, 2016
The family of Bob Purcell, regretfully announces that after a brief illness in our Cape Breton Regional Hospital, he died there on July 15, 2016, he was 87.
Bob was the second son, of Duncan and Anne (Boutilier) Purcell, Sydney.
He was predeceased by his parents; by his brother, Jack, in 1944; by the mother of his four children, Margaret (MacDonald) in 1977; by his sisters, Margaret (MacPherson), Claire (Joseph O'Keefe) and Sally (Gilles Belanger); Bob's eldest daughter, Anne Marie, died in Halifax, in September, 2015.
He will be greatly missed by his wife of 30 years, Annette (MacDonald) and by his children, Jane (Kim Carroll), Sydney, Russell, Halifax and Susan (Heinz Gaube), Halifax. Bob also enjoyed the company of Annette's children, Tom (Roxanne) Lathigee, Dartmouth, Anita (John) Lathigee-Dalton, Halifax and Andrew (Cindy) Lathigee, Halifax. He was a very special Gramps to Sean and Kate Carroll, Sophie and Isabel Gaube and Brenna Wycliffe and was close to his step-grandchildren, Andrew Austen Lathigee and Lincoln Creaser. At the time of his death, Bob was looking forward to a visit from his great grandson, Tristan Schrader, from Kamloops, BC. "Rocky" Bob's thirty-six year career in education began at St. Francis Xavier University. He was first employed by the Sydney School Board in 1949, as a teacher of junior high, then high school at Sydney Academy, and most recently as Language Consultant with the amalgamated board. He retired in 1985. He was particularly proud of having introduced both Core French and subsequently French as a Second Language, in the elementary schools of the Sydney System.
We fully appreciate and thank the doctors, the specialists and the nursing staff for the dedicated care Bob received during his illnesses. Thank you to everyone who provided assistance and support to his family.
On August 5, at 11 a.m., there will be a memorial mass at St. Theresa's Parish Church, Sydney, with Rev. Dennis Lamey officiating, followed by a graveside service for the family, at Resurrection Cemetery.
Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.twcurry.com.
