Ella L. (Turnbull) Mitchell

Ella L. Mitchell

Ella was organized (was she ever!) and her obituary, as left in her papers, follows:

Ella went to “the happy hunting grounds” (her expression) on August 17th, 2022, to be with her husband John, who predeceased her on February 6th, 1978, their 24th wedding anniversary. Ella has waited a long time to be reunited with her husband. She will join several sisters and brothers-in-law; Elizabeth “Betty” and her husband Richard Powell, Evelyn and Elmer Shadel, (very recently) Susan Turnbull, and brothers-in-law Clyde Matteson and Harry Wood.

Ella was born in Norwich, New York, the daughter of Harry and Edna (Corwin) Turnbull, September 23 1929. She grew up in the Norwich area, and graduated from Norwich High School with the class of 1948. Ella and John married on February 6th, 1954. They moved to Unadilla in 1973, after residing in Oneonta, Mount Upton, and Concord, Massachusetts.

In life, Ella’s interests included her family, her home and gardens, reading a good book, golfing with friends, music of all kinds, and her daily walks through Unadilla. Ella also believed in doing her civic duty wherever she lived. As a resident of Unadilla, she served as the Village Clerk-Treasurer, Trustee, Deputy Mayor, Trustee of the Evergreen Hill Cemetery, and Inspector of Elections. She sat on the Zoning Board of Appeals, Tree Committee, and Committee for Senior Housing. She also volunteered at the Unadilla Food Pantry.

After John passed away, Ella traveled. She went on safari in Kenya, where her son Michael was posted in the Peace Corps. She visited friends in Hong Kong and later Spain, Italy, Great Britain, Ireland, the Bahamas, Aruba, and the Dominican Republic.

Ella is survived by her sons Michael and Donald, Michael’s wife Ruby, her grandsons Nile and Ean, Ean’s wife Kate, Nile’s partner Adara, her great-grandchildren Charlie and Adelaide, her sisters Marie Wood and Florence “Sugar” Matteson, sister Sue’s partner Delores Williams, brothers Harry, William “Billy,” Robert “Bobby,” their spouses Mary Lou, Patricia, and Sally, and many nieces, nephews, and special friends.

Ella will be cremated at her request. A Celebration of her Life will be held at the Westcott-Madden Funeral Home 123 Main Street in Unadilla on Fri. September 2 at 2:00 p.m. Burial will follow immediately after, at the Evergreen Hill Cemetery, with the Reverend Barbara Green presiding. The family will receive friends at the Westcott-Madden Funeral Home on Fri. Sept. 2, 2022 from 1 to 2 p.m. prior to service.  (Family requests that facial masks be worn).

In lieu of flowers, Ella requests that we all do a good deed for someone less fortunate and hopes they will follow in turn. Ella believed in doing this all of her life.

Online condolences may be made at:    www.wmaddenfh.com.

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