JAMES P. PURCELL

JAMES P. PURCELL age 56; (Cleveland Police Captain, Badge #1259) beloved husband of Holly (nee Tube); loving father of Cormac, Declan and Mairead; dear son of Patricia (nee Graven) and the late Edward Purcell; cherished brother of Mary-deceased, Andrea Fields (Bryan), Bridget Kane (Jim), and Edward (Katie), step father of Theodora and Colin Tube; favorite uncle to Bryan (Kelly), Elizabeth (Danny Martin), Lauren Kane and Catherine Fields; great uncle of Aiden, Cullen and Keegan Purcell and Penny Purcell; cousin, partner, colleague and friend of many.  Jimmy passed away with his family by his side after a brave battle with cancer at University Hospital on January 18, 2020.  Funeral Mass Thursday, January 23, St. Angela Merici Church (20970 Lorain Rd. Fairview Park) at 10 A.M. (PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH) Interment Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME of NORTH OLMSTED, 29150 LORAIN RD. AT STEARNS RD. WEDNESDAY 3-8 P.M. 

Those of you who know Jim share our grief and despair.  Throughout his suffering with this horrible disease, he remained stoic and uncomplaining - even while enduring our frequently inept attempts at nursing.  He maintained his good humor and patience, and we always found something to laugh about - even if it was his IV nutrition spraying across the wall.  Jimmy was generous to a fault; it didn't matter if it was his time, talent or money.  Need someone to lift a 500 pound armoire up a narrow staircase?  How about catch a bird that made its way into the house?  Can you lend me fifty bucks (here - just take a hundred).  If he was making his excellent chicken soup, there was always a container for everyone.  He had such heart and compassion, despite  the awful things he saw as part of his job, particularly early in his career.  He loved being out on the street, and we think took his captain's "desk job" mainly so our mom could brag even more about her son "Captain" Purcell.  Jimmy was also a talented artist; he received a scholarship offer to the Columbus School of Design when he was in high school, but didn't want to end up a starving artist so he earned a psychology degree instead.  It served him well in his work with the CPD and his dealings with various crazy family members and friends.  More than anything, Jimmy was devoted to his family - his three kids meant the world to him; he took enormous pride in their individual accomplishments.  His nieces and nephews all have special memories of him.  How many uncles would hide money and trinkets around the yard from "the fairies" at our annual summer solstice party?  How many would drive around looking for a lost Curious George and retrieve it at a store saying, " I'm here for the monkey." He was the ultimate good son - our mom was always a top priority for him and he made sure she wanted for nothing - especially in the twenty-five years since our dad has been gone.  He also loved his music and playing his guitar - his youthful rendition of "Purple Haze" still rings in our ears - although he loved the blues most of all.  Throughout his illness we were grateful for a few things: the time we spent together as a family, the blessing of his wife Holly and the fact that he had found someone who loved him completely and wanted only to be with him and enjoy the many things they shared in common.  Jim's primary physician, Dr. Mohamed Shahed, who is not just a wonderful doctor, but one of the most caring, compassionate, and loving people it has been our privilege to know, did everything possible to care for him and bring comfort to all of us.  The nurses on the sixth floor of Fairview Hospital were true angels in his two weeks there, and we are very grateful for their care.  Our Jimmy was one of a kind and our family will never be the same without him - truly, our hearts our broken.