NEW BEDFORD — Adella Mazelle (Burrell) Jenkins, 96, of Mattapoisett, passed away peacefully at St. Luke's Hospital on April 29, 2010. She was pre-deceased by her husband, Milton.
Born in New Bedford, the daughter of Sydney and Edith Burrell, she was one of ten children. Survivors include two daughters, Arnett M. Peccini, her husband Alfred, and Roxanne Bungert, her husband James, both of Mattapoisett; eight grandchildren, Fred Peccini and Meg Reilly of South Carolina, Beth Palermino of Maryland, Thomas Peccini of Cyprus and Daniel, Jason, Ethan Bungert and Lori Bardwell, all of Mattapoisett; 18 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She is also survived by two sisters, Natalie Brindley of North Andover, MA and Ruth Paine of Potomac, MD. She was the sister of the late Sydney, Robert, William, Benjamin, Richard and Constance Burrell and Edith Wood.
Raised in Fairhaven, she graduated from Fairhaven High School and attended Swain School of Design in New Bedford. She was an accomplished craftswoman, furniture refinisher, upholsterer, basket maker and artist and derived great pleasure from her creative endeavors. She participated in an intergenerational program with Old Rochester Regional High School art students. She took great pride in her membership in the New Bedford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and was a former member of the Mattapoisett Congregational Church Women's Guild and the Mattapoisett Historical Society. Her interests included gardening, nature, bird watching, celestial events, firework displays and beachcombing for sea glass. She was especially interested in watching the weather reports so that she could keep track of family members located around the world. Her family was her greatest pleasure and she was always "at the ready" to attend family gatherings.
Precluded from serving during World War II, Dell and Milt provided great support to members of their extended family serving overseas. They took responsibility for her younger siblings while her parents served in the military. She was an accomplished seamstress and would alter uniforms at a moments notice.
Her spirited nature contributed to her long life, and she will be sorely missed by all who had the honor of knowing her.
She was an avid reader and for that reason, the family requests that contributions may be made in her name to the Mattapoisett Public Library.
A memorial service will be held at the Mattapoisett Congregational Church, Mattapoisett, Ma., Saturday, June 19, 2010, at 12 Noon. A private interment will be held at Oak Grove Cemetery, New Bedford, MA.