Melody Louise Seutatia Purcell
Melody Louise Seutatia Purcell
1971 ~ 2024
Melody Louise Seutatia Purcell, lovingly known as Dee, passed away peacefully at home in Cedar Hills, Utah, on Saturday, August 17, 2024. She was surrounded by her sisters. For 16 years, Dee has endured many illnesses that included several surgeries, hospital stays, and injuries that left her unable to see or walk. But, through it all, she remained faithful, happy, and kind, with a sense of humor that kept us all on our toes.
The youngest child of Tingey Merrill (Melila) Purcell and Vera Ta’ele Atiga Tuiletufuga, Dee was beloved by all.
Born in Faga’alu, American Samoa on April 3, 1971, Dee spent her early years in Mapusaga Fou. Her family moved to Fullerton, California, where she spent her formative years. She met many wonderful, life-long friends there. Dee attended Raymond Elementary School, Ladera Vista Junior High School, and Fullerton Union High School. Melody returned to Mapusaga Fou, American Samoa and graduated from Tafuna High School in 1989. She made many wonderful, life-long friends there. She served a mission, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mission from April 1992 to October 1993. She attended Brigham Young University-Hawaii and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in April 1998. Dee worked as a Trade Show Coordinator for a software company and travelled extensively for work. She enjoyed her professional life until she took ill in 2008.
Melody never married or had children. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Tiaseu (Iliili), Colleen, Marlene (Isa’ako), Gladys (Dennis), Duke, Melila, Tupu, Tioata (Foga’a), and Danny, nieces Mohannanui Mulitalo, Patricia Pilimai, and nephew Alema Lindley. She is survived by her siblings, La’au Liufau, Havila Magalei Purcell, Moana Mauga Purcell, Max (Carolyn) Purcell, Sapi (Malaela) Tuioletai, Naomi Seiuli, James (Gwen) Purcell, Fred (Kylene) Purcell, Helen (Tino) Levao, Larry (Bernice) Purcell, Karen (Danny) Rodriguez, Mona (Jason) Porter, Sina (Iona) Enosa, and Julia (Kingsley) Ah You, her numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.
Our family would like to especially thank our sister Karen and her husband Danny, and their family for loving and caring for Dee in their home. A heartfelt thanks to Dee’s special sisters, Suzy Shumway, Heidi Wolf, and Jennifer Young, for all they have done for Dee. Also, we thank the Cedar Hills 1st Ward for being Dee’s wonderful ward family. We thank Dr. Cheryl Johnson, Dr. Clint Mower and staff, Symbii Hospice Care, and Warenski Funeral Home for your care of our sister. We wish to thank our extended family, especially our Aunty Louise Azarvand, whom Dee is named after, for loving our Dee.
This can be said of our Melody: She loved her Father in Heaven and her Savior, Jesus Christ; she held a firm testimony of the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ; she respected and honored her parents and siblings; she loved, spent time with, and supported her nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews as much as she could; she lived life without regrets; she gave freely; she was loyal to her friends; she endured her illnesses, pains, and sufferings with humility and grace; she truly lived her favorite scripture:
“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” 2 Nephi 31:20
Go now, Dee, into the arms of our Savior, our parents, our siblings and family members who have gone before, with our love and blessing. For the Iron Rod you have held true to in your mortal journey, is truly, the Savior’s loving hand. We look forward to the day when we will be reunited as a family forever. Feiloa’i i Talosaga ~ See you in our prayers!
Funeral services for Dee will be held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 11:00 am in the Cedar Hills 1st Ward Chapel. Located at 4355 West Cedar Hills Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah 84062. Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Wednesday morning from 9:00 – 10:30 am prior to services at the church. Burial will be at East lawn Memorial Hills Cemetery in Provo, Utah.