Parcourez la nécrologie de Mary Loretta Burrell August 21 1935
March 22 2024 résidant dans la province T-N pour le détail des funérailles
Mary «Loretta» Burrell Obituary
Mary “Loretta” Burrell passed peacefully away after a brief illness on March 22nd, 2024 at the Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital, Stephenville with her faithful and constant caretaker Sandra Flavin O’Quinn and her “little girl” close friend Lisa Jesso Meaney at her side.
Loretta was predeceased by: husband Thomas L. Burrell; parents Philip and Sarah Retieffe; brother Sammy; and sister Kitty Duffnais.
She leaves to mourn: brother Raymond Retieffe; sister Dola Bungay; special nephew Philly Duffenais; and special friends: Sheila Bennett and Reg and Lisa Meaney; as well as a large circle of nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends scattered all over, NL, Canada, and the United States.
Born in West Bay Centre, Loretta was always comfortable calling either West Bay Centre, Three Rock Cove, Cape St. George, or Stephenville her home. Her early years were happy and contented but difficult. A spinal problem kept her from walking until she was almost eight years old, but she liked to boast that it didn’t keep her from getting around! “I could crawl quicker than my brothers or sisters could walk”, and she loved to talk about riding piggy back with her beloved older brother Raymond. “And dad always had a horse and I rode horseback from the time I was three years old!”.
When she was five years old Loretta was admitted to the orthopedic hospital in St. John’s where she spent the next two years, mostly in a body cast. She had a friend in the hospital who shared her plight, Sheila Carey, and Loretta often wondered about and spoke of Sheila- although the two never did see each other again. How often would she comment “I wonder what became of Sheila Carey”. Not long after her stay at the hospital Loretta was walking without difficulty and obviously her life changed with her new mobility. She liked to boast that her first paying job was at the fish canning factory in Three Rock Cove and she was delighted to earn her twenty-five cent an hour wage!
In her early twenties Loretta gathered all her courage and went off to Toronto to seek her fortune. She quickly found a job at a small laboratory and the lab’s owner, Mr. Winter was so impressed with Loretta’s work ethic that he appointed her unofficial office manager with a special uniform. She loved the work at the lab and she especially appreciated the help and guidance of Mr. Winter. “I thought I had a job for life” she often said. But back home in Three Rock Cove her mother developed some serious medical issues and Loretta knew she had to return home to help her mother. “And I’m glad I did” Loretta often. It was shortly after her return from Toronto that she met a handsome young American Air Force Serviceman who had recently arrived for a tour of duty at Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville. Thomas Lloyd Burrell was celebrating his birthday on August 18th at the Clover Club in Stephenville and Loretta was there with a friends after just getting off work. “Tom came over and asked me to dance, but I was in such a state after just getting off work that I told him no”. A few nights after that Loretta was celebrating her own birthday at the Clover Club. “I didn’t refuse him this time when he came over and asked me again to dance.” Tom and Loretta danced the night away and through the next fifteen months. On October 23, 1965 Tom and Loretta were married at the Parish Church in Piccadilly by Rev. R.T. White.
It was an exciting time. The Vietnam War was raging and Tom anticipated that his next posting would be in California and shortly after that he expected a tour of duty in Vietnam. But just four months after their marriage, on February 24, 1966, a devastating accident playing basketball at the base gym in Stephenville changed forever the course of life for Tom and Loretta. Fouled making a lay-up, Tom was knocked to the floor and an ensuing head injury sent him to the local hospital and from there he was flown to the Walter Reid Hospital in Washington, DC. Loretta was by his side on the flight to Reid and one can say she stayed faithfully by his side for the rest of his life. Tom never recovered from the right side paralysis that resulted from the basketball accident. They spent three months at Reid and then they transferred to the McGuire Veteran’s Hospital in Virginia where Tom spent another eighteen months before Loretta brought him back home to NL.
For Loretta the two years at Walter Reid and McGuire were life changing experiences. It was during the Vietnam War and some of the war casualties and injuries she saw at the hospitals and some of her experiences helping the wounded patients in the room with Tom gave her an empathy relevant to the problems of others that influenced her for the rest of her life.
Tom never recovered fully from his accident but he did recover his love of life and it’s good times. Together they experienced all the ups and downs, joys and sorrows of a full and active lifestyle. Loretta dedicated her life to making sure that she and Tom lived life to the fullest. And though he was slow with his full braced leg, he kept on the move and together they travelled extensively throughout NL, Canada, and the United States.
After Tom’s passing in January 2022, Loretta’s prime concern was the thought of establishing a fitting memorial in Tom’s memory. Several ideas occupied her mind and time but she finally fixed on a memorial scholarship at Stephenville High. With the enthusiastic and guiding help of the school’s scholarship committee Chairperson, Lynn McDonald, her plan came to fruition with the presentation on October 11, 2023 of a twenty-five thousand dollar endowment to Ms. McDonald and the establishment of an annual one thousand dollar scholarship to a student exhibiting the ‘grit and determination’ exhibited by Tom and Loretta in their daily lives.
On November 17, 2023 at the Stephenville High Scholarship and Awards ceremony, Loretta was more than proud and pleased to present on behalf of herself and Tom the First Annual Tom and Loretta Memorial Scholarship to the first winner Madison Graham-Benoit. Following the presentation, Loretta commented tearfully “it was one of the proudest and happiest moments of my life!”
Following her wishes cremation has taken place. A funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 26th at 10:30 AM from St. Stephen’s Church, West Street, Stephenville. As expressions of sympathy donations in Loretta’s memory may be made to the Tom and Loretta Memorial Scholarship Fund at Stephenville High School or to a charity of one’s choice.
Loretta’s family and friends would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all those who cared for her at the Acadian Village and Sir Thomas Roddick Hospital.
Go in peace Loretta and with satisfaction to be again with your beloved Tom!
To to the family of Mary, please
visit our floral store.
Read more
August 21 1935
March 22 2024
Décès pour la Ville Stephenville, Province T-N
avis deces Mary Loretta Burrell August 21 1935
March 22 2024
nécrologie Mary Loretta Burrell August 21 1935
March 22 2024
Nous offrons nos plus sincères condoléances à la famille et aux amis de Mary Loretta Burrell August 21 1935
March 22 2024 et espérons que leur mémoire pourra être une source de réconfort pendant cette période difficile. Vos pensées et vos mots aimables sont grandement appréciés.