Mildred Di Mayo Purcell

Burial services will be private.  In lieu of flowers or donations, the family requests that you remember Mildred with acts of kindness and compassion and to pay it forward.

Mildred Mary Di Mayo Purcell was a Loving Mother, Grandmother, Daughter, Sister, Aunt and Friend.  

She entered eternal rest peacefully at home surrounded in the love of her two cherished sons at her side.

Mildred, born in 1943, was the beloved daughter of Michael Di Mayo and Elizabeth Marsella.  She called South Philadelphia home for most of her life until moving to Rancho Mirage in 2000 enjoying her twilight years where she continued her joy of talking and laughing on the phone for hours with treasured friends.

Having grown up in an age when Hollywood movies and glamour were at their peak, she became enamored with classics such as Gone with the Wind and Bright Eyes.  Movies such as these formed the foundation for one of her greatest passions in life of collecting antique dolls of movie character icons such as Scarlett O’Hara, Rhett Butler and the quintessential child actress Shirley Temple.  She enjoyed attending vintage events to search for dolls to add to her vast collection.  Her passion for dolls was equally matched with her love of hats in all shapes and styles.  A hat would always be the finishing touch to all chic attire, no matter casual or formal.  Mildred’s most touching collection throughout life were her precious photos of family and friends that adorned her home so that she would always have those dear to her heart, close at hand.  

Mildred is survived by her two sons that she adored, Joseph Purcell Jr. and his wife Sloan and Michael Purcell and his wife Rita.  Mildred was blessed with three grandchildren that survive her;  a granddaughter Logan and two grandsons Joey and Gavin.    She is pre-deceased by her loving brother Michael Di Mayo.