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Edward Francis Purcell was born on December 30, 1917 in Antigonish, NS to Alexander Purcell and Mary Ellen MacKenzie. He attended St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton from 1944-1948 and was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1948 at Ninian's Cathedral in Antigonish by Archbishop MacDonald (who was coadjutor at the time).

Rev. Purcell served many parish communities in Alberta including Tofield, Clandonald, Dewberry, Derwent, Innisfail, Vermillion, Prague, Irma and Viking. He also served as parish priest for both St. Paul and St. Patrick parishes in Edmonton. During this time he oversaw the construction and renovation of many parishes.

Rev. Purcell was also a military chaplain serving during World War II for just over three years. After the war he continued to work as a Chaplain serving veterans in the communities where he was serving as priest. When he retired from full-time pastoral ministry in 2000 he continued to serve as Chaplain at Mewburn Veterans Hospital and part-time chaplain to the Kingsway Royal Canadian Legion.

Rev. Purcell died on May 10, 2000. His funeral was celebrated at St. Joseph's Basilica in Edmonton on May 15, 2000. He was buried in his family plot in the Antigonish cemetery.