Father John James Purvey, 81, a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Md., and former Brooklyn Franciscan Brother for 29 years, died Feb. 28. A funeral Mass was celebrated by Baltimore Archbishop William Lori.

Born in Great Neck, L.I., he attended St. Aloysius School, Great Neck; St. Francis Prep, Brooklyn, and St. Francis College, Brooklyn Heights, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and philosophy.

He entered the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn on Feb. 1, 1952, and made his final vows as Brother Leon Purvey, O.S.F., on Aug. 25, 1954.

From 1953 to 1974, he taught at St. Francis College; Bishop Ford H.S., Park Slope; St. Leonard H.S., Bushwick; St. Francis Prep and at various parish schools.

He began his studies for the priesthood at St. Mary’s Seminary in the Archdiocese of Baltimore in 1981. He was ordained to the priesthood for the Baltimore Archdiocese on Nov. 24, 1984 by Baltimore Archbishop William D. Borders at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen.

He served as an associate pastor at various parishes until his retirement on July 1, 2008.

He is survived by two sisters, Sister Aileen Purvey, R.S.M., of Whitestone, and Joan Eannaccone of Huntington, L.I.