Claire
Claire Burrell
d. November 9, 2014
It is with great sadness that the family of Claire Ellen Burrell announces her passing on November 9, 2014. She will be joining her beloved late husband of 42 years, Ivan Jim burrell, on her new journey. She is survived by her daughters Marsha Jane Burrell and Pamela Sue Jackson, both of Frederick, Maryland and her son, Steven Neil Burrell of Newport News, Virginia ; grandchildren Joseph Edward and Kathryn Claire Jackson; great-grandchildren Kailey Alyssa and Joseph Edward Jackson II; son-in-law Robert Richard Jackson and daughter-in-law Christiane Gunther Burrell. She is also survived by sisters Barbara Jean Plymesser and Dawn Christine Ferencz, both of the Cleveland area. She was pre-deceased in death by sister Ardeth Szabo and nephew Jim Bates.
Claire was born March 20, 1935 in Oak Park, Illinois to Steven Neil and Eugenie Skyrm Hada. She was the third of four daughters. She was raised in the Chicago and Boston, Massachusetts areas before moving with her family to Cleveland, Ohio. She attended West High School and was part of the Class of 1953.
Claire and Jim were married on February 12, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio. They moved to Detroit, Michigan where they started their family with the birth of their daughter Marsha. They soon moved to the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, where both Pamela and Steven were born. They raised their family in Silver Spring, Rockville and Olney, Maryland, with a short detour in Medfield, Massachusetts.
After Claire retired, she and Jim adopted the nomadic lifestyle of full-time RVers, home-based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Claire and Jim travelled extensively, visiting all the lower 48 states and numerous Canadian Provinces. Claire enjoyed telling stories of all the interesting places she visited, no matter how seeming insignificant and of all the wonderful people that they met along the highways and bi-ways they wandered. They would spend their winters in central Florida resting up until spring when they would set on their next adventure.
Claire embodied the spirit of patriotism and volunteerism. She was active in the PTA of her children’s schools, a supporter of the Girls Scouts of America, serving as a troop leader to her daughter’s troops and as a Service Unit chairwoman. Later in life, she became active in her grandson’s little league baseball team, serving as the team grandmother, where she was known simply as Gran to the players, the coaches and the parents. She was an avid supporter of the Wounded Warriors Project, as well as other Veterans support groups. The many letters of thanks that she received from the wounded service members was a testament to her desire to help others, whether they were friends or strangers.
Claire was a person of strong faith, worshipping in Episcopal Church. At the time of her death, Claire was member of the Church of the Transfiguration, Braddock Heights, Maryland. At various times in her life she was a member of the Vestry, Altar Guild, and Flower Guild and taught Sunday school. She never lost her faith in the Lord, even when her health started to fail.
Claire’s interests included gardening, crocheting, playing Bingo and spoiling her grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9PM on Friday, November 14 at the Stauffer’s Funeral Home 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, Maryland. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 15 at 11 AM at Church of the Transfiguration, Braddock Heights, Maryland.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project woundedwarriorproject.org or the Animal Welfare League of Frederick County Maryland, AWLFC 1202 E. Patrick St., Suite 13A, Frederick, MD 21701(indicate Claire Burrell in the memo field).
Claire was born March 20, 1935 in Oak Park, Illinois to Steven Neil and Eugenie Skyrm Hada. She was the third of four daughters. She was raised in the Chicago and Boston, Massachusetts areas before moving with her family to Cleveland, Ohio. She attended West High School and was part of the Class of 1953.
Claire and Jim were married on February 12, 1955 in Cleveland, Ohio. They moved to Detroit, Michigan where they started their family with the birth of their daughter Marsha. They soon moved to the Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC, where both Pamela and Steven were born. They raised their family in Silver Spring, Rockville and Olney, Maryland, with a short detour in Medfield, Massachusetts.
After Claire retired, she and Jim adopted the nomadic lifestyle of full-time RVers, home-based in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Claire and Jim travelled extensively, visiting all the lower 48 states and numerous Canadian Provinces. Claire enjoyed telling stories of all the interesting places she visited, no matter how seeming insignificant and of all the wonderful people that they met along the highways and bi-ways they wandered. They would spend their winters in central Florida resting up until spring when they would set on their next adventure.
Claire embodied the spirit of patriotism and volunteerism. She was active in the PTA of her children’s schools, a supporter of the Girls Scouts of America, serving as a troop leader to her daughter’s troops and as a Service Unit chairwoman. Later in life, she became active in her grandson’s little league baseball team, serving as the team grandmother, where she was known simply as Gran to the players, the coaches and the parents. She was an avid supporter of the Wounded Warriors Project, as well as other Veterans support groups. The many letters of thanks that she received from the wounded service members was a testament to her desire to help others, whether they were friends or strangers.
Claire was a person of strong faith, worshipping in Episcopal Church. At the time of her death, Claire was member of the Church of the Transfiguration, Braddock Heights, Maryland. At various times in her life she was a member of the Vestry, Altar Guild, and Flower Guild and taught Sunday school. She never lost her faith in the Lord, even when her health started to fail.
Claire’s interests included gardening, crocheting, playing Bingo and spoiling her grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9PM on Friday, November 14 at the Stauffer’s Funeral Home 1621 Opossumtown Pike, Frederick, Maryland. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 15 at 11 AM at Church of the Transfiguration, Braddock Heights, Maryland.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wounded Warriors Project woundedwarriorproject.org or the Animal Welfare League of Frederick County Maryland, AWLFC 1202 E. Patrick St., Suite 13A, Frederick, MD 21701(indicate Claire Burrell in the memo field).
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