Kathryn Pauline Burrell

Kathryn Pauline Burrell, 93 of Avon, Indiana passed away on October 27, 2021. She was born June 25, 1928 in Philadelphia, PA to the late Edwin Coles and Eleanor Pauline (Niblock) Fulford. Kathryn worked much of her adult life from age 17 until age 63. She took on jobs of increasing responsibility and complexity over time without the benefit of a high school diploma in an era when most women did not work. Kathryn was a hardworking, determined, self-taught, self-made individual somewhat of a trailblazer for her time. She was quiet but yet tough, full of grit and determination, her family always came first, and above all she was a caring, sweet lady that everyone loved. Kathryn’s work career began in 1945 at the Hiram Walker Distillery in Peoria, Illinois as a production operator. It was there where she met her future husband Russell Louis Burrell, whom she later married on May 4, 1946. While in Peoria, she later worked in payroll and bookkeeping for ABC, Budweiser, and then Schierer’s Dairy where she retired from in 1981. While working, she always found time to be a loving and supportive mother and wife. She was always there for her children and they always knew they were loved. During retirement, she spent a lot of time with her children and grandchildren, who she loved dearly. She also traveled and did lots of shopping. She loved to shop! While in retirement, she also went on to finish her education, earning her GED in 1985 and then working part-time as a bookkeeper for a number of years after. In 1991, she moved away from Peoria to follow her youngest son. In a span of 30 years, she lived in Shreveport, LA, Burlington, NC, Terre Haute, IN and finally Avon, IN. She stayed close to family and made good friends along the way, wherever she landed. For those who knew her, they loved her and often described her as “an awfully sweet lady”. She was so loved and will be deeply missed by all of us who knew her but alive in our memories and always in our hearts. Kathryn is survived by her children, Fred (Marilyn) Burrell, Pamela Burrell, Russell (Nellie) Burrell, her grandchildren, Kim (Mark) Gardner, Kenny Burrell, Becky (Josh) Halon, Sarah (Corey) Ruble, Callie Burrell, 9 great grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Russell Louis Burrell, a great grandchild, Jason Ray Hurt, and her siblings, Ruth (George) Kerth, Edwin (Mary) Fulford, Edith (Ted) Sookiasian, and Mae (Jim) Wade. Services will be held on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 1 PM at Resurrection Mausoleum Chapel, 7519 North Allen Road Peoria, Illinois with visitation there from 12 PM until the service. Flanner Buchanan Decatur Township is handling the local arrangements with the help of Wright & Salmon Funeral Home in Peoria, Illinois. The family request that any memorial contributions may be made to the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation. To sign her online guest registry and share a favorite story with her family you are encouraged to go to www.flannerbuchanan.com .