Sheila L. Burrell

Sheila Lowry Burrell, 75, lifelong Ellicottville resident, died peacefully on February 5, 2024 surrounded by family at her home, where she had lived all but four years of her life.

Born August 11, 1948 in the former Salamanca District Hospital, she was the daughter of the late Patricia Sander Lowry Pierce and William T. Lowry. She was married on December 30, 1967 at Holy Name of Mary Church to John A. Burrell, who survives.

Sheila was a lifelong member of Holy Name of Mary Church, where she taught Confirmation class, was a member of the choir, the Altar and Rosary Society, the Parish Council, and member of the 100th anniversary Building Restoration Committee. Sheila received two Papal Blessings, and Bishop Fisher presented her with the Saint Joseph the Worker Award.

She worked in the office at Signore Inc., was Corporate Secretary and Office Manager at Burrell Cutlery Company, an Amway Ruby District Distributor, and a Usana Distributor. Sheila also had her own business, Faith Designs, and worked part-time at Kazoo II for over twenty-five years.

An active Ellicottville community member, Sheila served on the Board of the Ellicottville Chamber of Commerce, designed the Village Walking Tour, and developed the Village Historic District. She was a member of the Village Planning Board for over forty years and was on the NY Planning Federation Board. She served on the Board of the Ellicottville Memorial Library and the Board of Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System. In 2004, Sheila was honored as a New York State Senate “Woman of Distinction.”

Sheila loved gardening, button collecting, baking, watching deer in the backyard, Christmas decorations, reading, singing in the Village Cantata, and watching Buffalo Bills and Notre Dame football.

In addition to her husband of 56 years, she is survived by: son, John (Stefany) Burrell; granddaughter, Samantha Ellis Burrell; two sisters, Melissa Lowry Thatch, Marya (Robert Walsh) Lowry; three brothers, Will (Lois) Lowry, George (Tracy) Lowry, Joe (Connie) Lowry; two exchange student sons, Frank Leyk (Germany) and Marc Breviere (France); six godchildren; fifteen nieces and nephews; seventeen grand-nieces and -nephews; and a great-grand-niece and -nephew.

Friends may call at the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY on Monday, February 12, 2024 from 3 – 7pm.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Holy Name of Mary RC Church, 22 Jefferson St, Ellicottville, NY on Tuesday at 10:30am with Rev. Moses Ikuelogbon as celebrant.

Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Ellicottville Memorial Library, 6499 Maples Rd, Ellicottville, NY 14731 or Ride For Roswell, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263.

E-condolences can be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.