Elizabeth was born in Perth, Australia on 21 June 1948, joining her older brothers Neal and Bryan. Her parents, Betty and Wally completed the family with the birth of Lynette 4 years later. Elizabeth spent her childhood years in the country towns of York and Mount Barker, Western Australia. The family returned to Perth in 1961 where her mother had to learn how to cook without using a wood-fired stove and oven.

Liz had a wonderful easy-going and bright nature with a bit of spice and grit thrown in the mix. Anyone who ever played tennis against her would attest that she ran down every ball and often figured out an angle or slice to return the favor. She wasn't always the hardest hitter but she was often the most determined and wiliest player on the court, and used these skills to great effect over the years. Her Scrabble playing exhibited the same fighting style, and more than a few of us have lost more than a few (all, most?) games to her! These characteristics were not just sporting, but were core to her persona.

When family or friends needed advice or free therapy, Elizabeth was always a willing listener, often with practical and sage thoughts to offer. She had her own charming way of instantly making people feel comfortable and safe sharing whatever was on their mind. Her intuition usually enabled her to offer insightful ideas and suggestions for helping others manage through difficult situations. She used this wonderful skill throughout her own life and it served her and her family well throughout her life.

Elizabeth was educated at Presbyterian Ladies College in Perth where she excelled in several sports and her school work. She elected to pursue dental nursing and was soon employed in Albany and Perth.

At the time, the Australian government encouraged young Aussies to explore the world and provided discounted round-trip tickets. She left with friends and spent a year working in London and exploring Europe, at one point traveling in a Volkswagen bus and eating rice made over a campfire. As the time to return approached she and her friend Jenny took jobs to be au peres for families near New York City and extended their trip.

As the year in New York was nearing completion she traveled to San Francisco where she met Tom Purcell. 9 months later they married and Elizabeth became the loving mother of Rebecca, 6 and young Tom, 2.

After three years in Sacramento for Tom’s medical residency, he convinced her to move to Minneapolis, which for her might as well have been the North Pole! Soon after making new roots in Minneapolis, she gave birth to her son Brett.

In Minneapolis, Liz was a fiercely competitive and accomplished tennis player and was active in many tennis programs and made many wonderful friends through her sport. She was also heavily involved in the Women's Resource Center.

The family spent most of their summers enjoying Bayfield and Lake Superior. Later they would build a boat in Bayfield and purchase a home just outside of the town. She and Tom spent a decade of winters on the boat exploring and enjoying the Bahamas, Mexico, Belize and US rivers and intracoastal areas - frequently with family and various friends.

Around Bayfield, Liz enjoyed volunteering at Encore to raise money for senior care and she was active in teaching tennis to local children and securing USTA funds to refresh tennis courts in Washburn. She enjoyed creating and tending to her free-form garden and supporting local organic farmers.

Liz was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011 and lived long and well enough to enjoy getting to know her two grandchildren, Dante and Logan, both now 6. Despite a grim prognosis and countless treatments, she always strived to live on her own terms and to not be defined by the disease that took her. Her last days were spent watching the ebb and flow of the ice on Lake Superior, which one night near the end treated her to what she described as "the sound of 1000 champagne glasses celebrating" as a winter storm broke the ice into a sea of tiny tinkling shards of ice. She died peacefully and painlessly while sleeping a few days later. We shared all the emails, cards and calls with her and she wanted to make sure that everyone knew their efforts were really appreciated and that each brought a smile to her face.

She will be missed by many, and by her husband Tom, children Brett, Tom and Rebecca, her 100-year-old mother Betty, siblings Lynette, Bryan and Neal and her 2 grandchildren.

Liz requested that any gifts or funds go towards The Clearity Foundation, which is dedicated to improving treatment options for ovarian cancer patients:

https://www.clearityfoundation.org/support/donate/

If you feel so inclined, we'd love to hear about great times you shared with Liz, funny stories, what made her special to you, or anything else you would like to share.

Much love from the extended Purcell family.

Martin Joseph Fox Obituary

Castaic, California - Mr. Martin Joseph Fox, 73, joined our Heavenly Father, Sunday evening February 8th 2016 at his quiet home in Castaic, California surrounded and comforted by his loving children and grandchildren, after a decade long struggle with cancer.
He leaves behind his two daughters Rhonda(Williams) Fox and her husband Robert, daughter Rebecca Fox, with her companion Drew and son Benjamin Fox and his wife Silvana, his seven precious grandchildren; Jessica Williams, Jeremy Williams, Derek Fox, Christopher Fister, Victoria Roacha, Aiden Fox, Madison Fox; and many, many, lifelong and close friends.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California on July 17, 1943, the son of Martin Joseph Fox Sr. and his wife Francis Eva (Wood) Fox as well as brother to Colleen Cantwell.
Martin was a gifted athlete and very physically fit, early in his life before he joined the Catholic seminary, he played baseball with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and was offered a professional contract, but declined the offer to fulfill his calling with the Catholic Church.
In his early years, Martin was dedicated to the Claretian Junior Seminary, In Dominguez Hills, California where he studied the Catholic religion faithfully with discipline and great respect. Martin later moved on to receive his Master’s degree in Modern and Classical Languages and Literatures from UCLA, subsequently, he was then presented with the Certificate of Achievement Summa Cum Laude for Outstanding Performance in all courses offered in both Classical Languages from California State University Northridge.
Martin began his teaching career at the Buckley School in Sherman Oaks California, there he would dedicate his precise knowledge of the classics to the fine students for more than a decade. After retiring from teaching at The Buckley School he went on to continue teaching while receiving chemotherapy treatments to teach at the Monticello Preparatory School in Valencia, California, where he just could not contain the irresistible desire and urge to share his love for Greek and Roman languages as well as history with the fine students in his own community.
Martin Fox, had an extremely strong passion for all the Classics, as he also had a deep love for teaching. Mr. Fox truly gave himself willingly and with the utmost generosity to benefit his Family and fellow man, he truly lived the way he preached and that was to help people while you are here in this life, this was his profound belief, to do good for people, he was a man that had it right, I will carry his words through the rest of my life, and could only hope to be as great as he.
Martin Fox had a cremation and a private Ceremony to have his ashes scattered in the desert with his beloved "pickles" his shih Tzu companion, whom he loved dearly, may they run together in the desert wind

McCauley, Alexandria (Mangan) was taken fom us unexpectedly on March 14th, 2016. She was preceeded in death by her grandparents, David, Camille, and Francis. Alexandria is survived by her husband Jake, daughters Madison and Jordann, parents Dennis and Julie, grandmother Dorothy, her four siblings Dawn, Mary, Don, Brian, and her 9 nieces and nephews. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, caring sister, and beautiful daughter, who will be missed by many. Alexandria (Alex) you will be missed and never forgotten.

Alexandria always believed her heaven would look like Ireland, we know she is running through the green fields of heaven.

Until we meet again, we love you!


In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Christopher King Williams, 54yrs old of Chicago, IL was called home to be with Our Father, whom art thou in Heaven, on March 10, 2016. Christopher was born on the Westside of Chicago, IL on August 14, 1961 to Flora M. Lewiel and Ernest Williams. He attended Bass Grammar School and Crane High School.

During Christopher's youth and early adulthood, he was known as one of the most handsome gentlemen by a vast majority of young women, a prankster, full of laughter, fan of the martial arts and a no limits man on the dance floor. Life began to show it's power early on, by inflicting Christopher with mental illness. Christopher was strong and fought back, yet cancer set in and over ruled his will of bravery. Our Lord, now has Christopher and he has found pure peace of body, mind and soul in heaven. He was proceeded in death by his grandparents Walter B.

Dear Brother, you were so different and special in so many ways. It is so difficult to find the right words to express our thoughts and feelings. Brum Brum, our hearts are warmed as we turn the pages on the many valued and meaningful roles that you played throughout your life. Is it the your desire to make peace that we want to dwell on, You were so unconfrontational. You did not have the will or desire to keep a grudge. It was so easy to make peace with you no matter how much you have been hurt or is it all your great ideas, you were a business man who saw opportunity in everything. What won’t we give to still have you churning out all those ideas….the generosity, as long as you had it, we would be able to get it from you. Many times you are moved to promise so much more

Our dear Prince Oluwatuyi, as you like to call yourself, it is so hard to say goodbye so we will just say so-long. The pages of your book will never be closed, We will remember you through the many people still left behind whose lives you touched in the way only you can. Dear brother/son /father/uncle/ husband and friend. It’s a blessing that you were priviledged to wear all those hats as every African man would have wished.

We will miss you, but it is a honor and priviledge to say this words about you, Olubunmi Olubukayo Oluwatuyi !

Opal Renee Beckford - affectionately known as 'Opie', was born October 6, 1962 to Joslyn and Veronica Beckford in St Catherine Jamaica.

Opal completed her elementary and high school education in Jamaica and then earned her undergraduate and post graduate degrees in Business Administration in the United States.

Opal truly loved the Lord and accepted him as her Savior at Christ Temple Apostolic
Church in Jamaica, where she was a faithful member, choir member and youth leader.

After migrating to the US, Opal also served faithfully in the youth department at Christ Church of Deliverance, joyfully providing love and support to the youth and her peers in Hartford, CT.
Opal later moved to PA, where she again served in various ministries in her local church - Christ Haven Pentecostal Church in Darby.

A mother of one son, Collin - Opal never missed an opportunity to spoil him, single-handedly ensuring a great education, and sharing life lessons. There was seldom a year that Opal and Collin did not vacation together, visiting locations in both the US and overseas.

As a sister and aunt, Opal never forgot a birthday, Christmas or Easter basket, and doted on her nieces and nephews year after year, much to their delight.

Opal was ambitious and intentional about her career: a hard worker, she exemplified excellent work ethics and tenacity, and often rose thru the ranks to management and leadership positions. She was most recently employed at Vanguard in Berwyn, PA.

Opal's vibrant personality and zest for life brought fun and adventure to those who knew her well. She enjoyed fine dining, the theater and fine arts; and made a hobby of traveling and shopping.
Opal had a huge heart for the gospel of Jesus Christ and gave generously to numerous ministries - providing hope and help to the less fortunate. Opal was blessed and well ­loved.

Opal departed life on March 6, 2016. She is preceded in death by her father Jason Beckford and her sister Esther Beckford. Opal leaves to cherish her memory, her beloved son, Collin Marsh; her mother, Veronica Beckford; three sisters Grace Pownall, Faith Beckford and Valerie Hawes; one brother Lauriston Beckford; two brothers-­in­-law, Jason Pownall and Leon Hawes;
five nieces Kaydria Pownall, Naomi Beckford, Madison Beckford, Morgan Beckford and Carrington Hawes; four nephews, Kareem Pownall, Daniel Beckford, Joseph Beckford, and Isaiah Beckford; four aunts, Theresa Harrison Imogene Fleming, Elaine Beckford and Prudence Robinson; One uncle Granville Beckford; a host of very special cousins; and so many dear friends and colleagues.

May her soul rest in peace.