Shannon Marie Purcell, 18, was called home to God on Saturday, May 06, 2017, at 6:30 PM, in Okinawa, Japan.

Born on June 23, 1998, in Kingston, Shannon was the daughter of Dave Purcell, Swoyersville, and Georganne (Russett) Purcell, Larksville.

Shannon was a graduate at Wyoming Valley West High School, Class of 2016.

Incredibly musically talented, Shannon played a number of instruments, and also played in a band with her girlfriends – “BAMS”

Shannon was a Joan Harris Centre Ballerina where she was a student representative and a well-loved assistant dance teacher. Through her dancing career, she performed in many shows, most recently in a production of “Snow White”. Shannon was known for being a very strong and graceful dancer who expressed her sense of humor and bubbly personality through singing.

In 8th grade, Shannon began playing Field Hockey and played up until her senior year for Wyoming Valley West. She made varsity her sophomore year, and played for travel teams such as Kapow, Valley Styx, PA Elite, and Chicks with Sticks. Shannon competed in the Misericordia University and King’s College Summer Leagues, and also spent her summers attending field hockey camps at Bloomsburg University and Slippery Rock. She also played in the Keystone Indoor Tournament and was selected to play individually for the Limelight tournament under college connections. Throughout her Field Hockey Career she won a dome championship, a King’s League Championship, and a 2014 District 2 AAA Championship gold medal.

On July 19, 2016, Shannon joined the United States Air Force, and was sent to Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, to attend the 7 week Air Force Basic Military Training (BMT) Course. After graduating from basic training, she was assigned to the 363^rd Training Squadron at Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, where she completed her Technical Training School to become a Munitions Systems Specialist. Upon graduating from Technical Training School, she received her first permanent duty assignment at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, arriving there on December 09, 2016. Shannon was assigned to the 18^th Munitions Squadron where she served as a Conventional Maintenance Technician. During her time with the 18^th Munitions Squadron Shannon was awarded the Kadena Air Base Diamond Sharp Award and the Air Force Achievement Medal. While living in Japan, Shannon traveled, explored and said yes to every adventure.

Shannon brought light and peace to the lives of others from all across the world. Her love, kindness, and care for people gave her the unique ability to forge fast friendships that could withstand the test the time. She possessed a genuine concern for every person she encountered throughout her life and she was always ready and willing to extend a helping hand to anyone in need. Although Shannon lived just shy of 19 years, the impact she has made on this world made it all the more beautiful and a much better place!

Shannon was preceded in death by her paternal grandfather, Joseph Purcell; and her uncle, Christopher Doran. 

In addition to her parents, Dave  Purcell and Georganne Purcell, Shannon is survived by her sister, Rikki Purcell; her paternal grandmother, Jeanne Purcell; her maternal grandparents, George and Annette Russett; her aunts, Mary Allen, Laurie Doran Golubieski, Ellen Edmonson, and Kathleen Miick; her uncles, Christopher Purcell, Joe Golubieski, Glenn Edmonson, and George Miick; her cousins, Melissa Allen McHugh, John and Karli Doran, Eric and Jacob Edmonson; as well as a countless number of extended family members and friends.

Relatives and Friends are respectfully invited to attend Shannon’s viewing which will be held on Thursday, May18, 2017, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM, at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort. An additional viewing will be held on Friday morning from 9:15 AM until the time of the funeral service.

Shannon’s funeral service will be celebrated on Friday, May 19, 2017, at 10:00 AM at the Wroblewski Funeral Home, Inc., 1442 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort. The funeral service will be officiated by a Military Chaplain from the United States Air Force.

Interment will follow in Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, Hanover Township, where full Military Honors will be accorded by the United States Air Force.

A Reception and Celebration of Shannon Marie’s life will follow the burial service. Details will be announced at the cemetery.

For additional information or to send the Purcell family an online message of condolence, you may visit the funeral home web-site www.wroblewskifuneralhome.com.

“It is not length of life, but depth of life.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson