Beverly Purcell Church

Beverly Purcell Church passed away under hospice care on January 26, 2024. She was surrounded by family, which included her two devoted daughters, Lisa Ramirez and Paula Ramirez Hoover. Beverly was born on August 2, 1940, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Paul E. Purcell and Margaret Fitzmaurice Purcell. She worked as a nurse and married Stephen J. Ramirez (1931-2016). Together, they had four children; Stephen Michael (San Antonio, Texas), Paul Anthony (1962-1962), Lisa Jean (Phoenix, Arizona), and Paula Marie (Tucson, Arizona).

Divorced in 1974, Beverly continued her career as a nurse working in a medical clinic in South Florida. Beverly married Paul A. Church in 1976. They were happily married until his death in 2017.

Beverly Church through the years moved back to Pennsylvania and transitioned her career to become a nurse/paralegal in York, Pennsylvania. She worked for a local firm in York, and helped those who were powerless and underprivileged. She was most proud to champion the cause of helping Chinese refugees who were shipwrecked on the Golden Venture in 1993. Along with the help of legal counsel, Beverly was outspoken for the right for due process for the survivors of the Golden Venture to have their day in Court and a chance to become legal United States citizens.

This journey to help the Golden Venture refugees took her to Congress where she conducted several meetings with members of Congress. During that time, she also conducted press conferences and interviews with the national media. Her pursuit for equal justice under the law were highlighted in an article in Life Magazine, July, 1996, as well as Legal Assistant Magazine, November/December 1997 issue. She was featured on ABC News, as Peter Jennings “Person of the Week” on February 28, 1997, for her work in helping the Golden Venture refugees.

In her later years, Beverly continued to help others by becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant while living in Port Saint Lucie, Florida. She retired to Phoenix, Arizona in 2018 to live near her two daughters. Beverly became a great grandmother in 2023, and was able to meet her great grandson, Harrison, one month before her passing. Besides her children, Beverly is survived by sisters, Margaret (Purcell) Richardson of Estero, Florida, Delores (Purcell) Paiano of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and brother, Gerard Purcell of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. She is also survived by grandsons, Ethan Hoover, (married to Carter), and Jake Lian, and granddaughters, Erin Hoover and Megan Ramirez. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Arlene (Purcell) Monteleone and Paula (Purcell) Japhe.

Celebration of Life service will be held at a future date in Florida per Beverly Church’s wishes.

In lieu of flowers, please send a memorial contribution to the Navajo Water Project at www.navajowaterproject.org or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org.