Loretta Carrell

Carrell, Loretta A. MADISON/LODI Loretta A. (ORourke) Carrell, age 78, passed away on Sunday, June 29, 2008, in Lodi. Loretta left this world gracefully after a 14 year valiant battle with cancer. She was born on Feb. 12, 1930, in Chippewa Falls, the daughter of Leonard and Hazel (Bailey) ORourke and grew up on the family farm in Bloomer. She attended grade school at the Auburndale Public School, a one room country school much like the one she taught in, later in life. She attended the Bloomer High School, graduating in 1948. Summer vacations were spent toiling on the family farm. She never enjoyed the farm life and frequently conned her brother and sister into doing her chores. Realizing that life on the farm was not for her, she put herself through college working at the Blue Diamond Steakhouse in New Auburn, eventually earning a teaching degree at the State Teaching College in Eau Claire. On June 13, 1953, she married Michael D. Carrell of Jim Falls, after two years of cross country love letters while Mike was stationed on the east coast in the Air Force. Their first few years of marriage were spent in Cape Cod, Mass. After Mikes discharge from the Air Force in 1955, they moved to the Madison area. Loretta taught school at the Pumpkin Hollow School in the Town of Burke. She raised seven children, celebrating 473 birthdays, including her own, her husbands, and those of her children. For those people that knew Loretta we know that in some way, she touched you with her wonderful sense of humor, her incredible smile, or a shoulder to lean on. Loretta shared her husbands love of music and spent the better part of her life traveling with Mike all over the country to hear him play. They went to New Orleans every spring for 30 years to listen to their beloved jazz, spending the last week of Mikes life there one month shy of their 52nd wedding anniversary. With whatever free time she found, she enjoyed reading, Navajo weaving, gardening and spending time with family and friends. She had a quiet strength, never boastful or mean, but to the moment of her last breath it was evident. She never once complained of the pain she was in and was ever thankful for the care that her children and Hospice provided the last few months of her life. She will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her six children, Michele (Peter) Andringa of Cottage Grove, Dennis of Lodi, Jeffrey (Judie) of Steamboat Springs, Colo., Teresa Statz of Adams, Wade of Lodi and Melissa (Scott) Hillestad of Lodi; six grandchildren, Cheyenne, Bailey, Stephen, Matthew, Brittany and Katelyn; one brother, Jim (Joan) ORourke of Weybosset, Mass.; and one sister, June Pearson of New Auburn; any many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Mike of 51 years; her daughter, Mary in 1995; and many aunts and uncles. Funeral service will be held on Wednesday, July 2, 2008, at 11 a.m. at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL HOME, 5203 Monona Dr. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 1, 2008, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Madison Jazz Society or to Sauk Home Health Hospice.