"Prayers for the family"
In loving memory of
Eileen Hazel Harrell
April 28, 1921 - March 14, 2019
Eileen Hazel Harrell, age 97, the daughter of George and Emma (Kammerer) Duerfeldt, was born April 28, 1921 in Barada, Nebraska. She passed away March 14, 2019 in Gretna, Nebraska.
At age ten, Eileen's mother had passed, relatives helped raise Eilleen. She graduated from Falls City High School and went on to earn her teaching certificate from Peru State. She continued her education at University of Nebraska at Omaha and obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree.
Eileen started her teaching career in 1940 in Rulo, Nebraska, retiring in 1983 after 40 years of teaching. With her and her sisters: Florence Arnold and Julianmae Dunn, they had over 100 years of teaching combined. In 1944 Eileen met her future husband, James Harrell, while working with her sisters and cousins at the ordinance plant in Grand Island, Nebraska. They were later married in 1945 and had two sons. They later moved to Omaha where Eileen worked for the Omaha Public Schools and James worked as a mechanic at Robert's Dairy. James passed away in 1969 after 24 years of marriage. Her son, David, passed in 1990 at 44 years of age.
Eileen always enjoyed her time visiting with her nieces, nephews and friends, especially at family reunions. Church was a special part of her life and was a very active member until her brittle bones limited her activities. After moving to Gretna, Nebraska, Pastor Werling and Joyce would deliver recorded sermons to her home and would share prayer with each other.
She was preceded in death by her parents: George and Emma Duerfeldt; husband, James Harrell; son, David Harrell; sisters: Florence Arnold and Julianmae Dunn; triplet brothers: John, Paul and Phillip Duerfeldt. She is survived by her son, Don Harrell (Carol), grandchildren: Joanne, Mike, Scott (Dee); great-grandchildren: Jamison, Jordan, Bodie and Parker; Dave's widow, Barb; step grandchildren: Terri, Michelle, Don Schlofeld, Diane Biggs (Mike); and many step-great-grandchildren.
Services will be 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, March 19, 2019 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 P.M., Monday, March 18, 2019 at Forest Lawn Funeral Home. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Tributes
"I enjoyed Eileen's sense of humor and keen intelligence. Whether at the family reunions, or on the weekends when we visited her, Jim, and the kids or they us, they were a big part of our socializing. She was a great cook, of course, and a great teacher. She loved talking about her students. My sympathies to Donnie and the rest of her family survivors. may her memory be a blessing"
"I have many fond memories of Mrs Harrell as I have known her since high school. She always encouraged me to read, study and explore life. Loved her sense of humor too. I will miss you this side of Heaven's door. "