Shirley M. Purcell, 95, of Tinton Falls passed away Monday surrounded by her family.

Shirley was born and raised in Jersey City, she attended Dickenson High School and upon graduation she began to work for a Wall Street firm in bookkeeping. While working, she would be set up on a blind date with John B. Purcell in Coney Island, the two would fall in love and marry when he returned from the war in 1947. They moved to East Orange, NJ and in 1955 settled in Holmdel to raise their young family.

Shirley was a kind and loving person to all that she encountered.  She loved to play card games which she would go on to teach and play with her whole family.  She enjoyed the beach and travelling all over to see her children and grandchildren in sporting events.  Shirley loved to dine and travel with her life-long “Club” and dear friend Gen on cruises throughout the Caribbean and Alaska.  She enjoyed family gatherings for every occasion and especially Christmas visits with her sister Lillian Johnson’s family. Shirley was a faithful parishioner of St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Church for 44 years

Shirley was predeceased by her loving husband John in 2002 and her sister Lillian Johnson.

Shirley is survived by her children Jack Purcell and his wife Patricia of Sun City, Florida, Kathy VanDam of The Villages, Florida, Robert Purcell and his wife Elizabeth of Tinton Falls and Jim Purcell and his wife Karen of Middletown; her grandchildren Drew, Kevin, Julia, Matthew, Caitlin and Ryan and her beloved 5 great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held Friday, February 5^th from 6:00-9:00 Pm at the Holmdel Funeral Home, 26 S. Holmdel Rd, Holmdel. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, February 6^th at 10:00 am at St. Benedict’s RC Church, 165 Bethany Rd, Holmdel, an Entombment will follow at the Holmdel Cemetery Mausoleum.

To leave a message of condolence or to share a favorite memory please visit Shirley’s page at www.holmdelfuneralhome.com.  All current health restrictions apply.  Masks are required.