VaDonna Marie (Bryan) PELL

PELL, BRYAN, HOFMANN, LEACH, RAY, FAGG

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/27/2015 at 18:00:13

December 15, 1916 ---- September 25, 2015

VaDonna Marie Pell, 98 of Carbon, IN, passed away September 25, 2015 at the home of her daughter with her family present. She was born December 15, 1916 in Williams, Iowa, the daughter of Glen Willis Bryan and Dorothy Elizabeth Hofmann Bryan. At birth, she weighed only 2 and one half pounds. But, she was born with grit and determination and God had a plan for her life.

She was raised in Dows, Iowa and graduated from high school there in 1934. In 1930, her mother, Dorothy, passed away and later her father Glen married Marie Leach Bryan. Marie was a wonderful mother to VaDonna and loved her as her own.

In 1938 VaDonna came to Clay County, IN. to visit her Grandparents, Pete and Anna Hofmann and stayed in the area to be a nanny and caregiver for several families in the Brazil area. Later in life, she worked at the Clay Health Center in housekeeping and after retirement from there, she cared for aging folks in her home.

Through the years, she was active in Order of the Eastern Star and served as Past Matron. She was also active in any organization for her children. From school functions, PTO, Band Boosters and Mother's Club. She was a member of the Lena Church of Christ, and then later the McKinley Hill Church of Christ. She enjoyed helping with 4-H sewing projects and always sewed for her family. Reading was a favorite pastime, until she lost her sight in 1988. She then found the joy of books on tapes/CD, especially westerns. She was well known for her cooking and enjoyed making meals for her family and friends. Her family came first and she had a deep rooted Faith that carried her through difficult times.

On September 21, 1943, she married her husband Chester F. Pell. He, along with her parents, step-mom, Marie Bryan, her brother Harold Bryan and her son-in-law, John Ray have preceded her in death. Survivors include her children, Harold Pell and wife Rose of Brazil, Merle Pell and wife Barbara of Noblesville, Rachel Fagg and husband Melvin of Carbon, Bryan Pell and wife Linda of Brazil and Mary Ray of Brazil; 18 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren; also including one great-grandchild arriving in December and 2 great-great-grandchildren to arrive within a few months.

She was called "Granny" by all who knew her. Each family member has an ornament, red in color, on Granny's special Christmas tree, which is put up each year on December 15, her birthday. Each family member was made to feel important by "Granny".

A service to Celebrate the life of VaDonna will be held October 2 at 2:00 pm at the Lawson-Miller Chapel with Brook Reinoehl officiating. Burial will follow at Calcutta Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday October 1, from 4-8 also at the Lawson-Miller Chapel. If friends so desire, donations may be made to the Talking Book Library, Indiana State Library, 140 N. Senate Ave. Indianapolis, IN. or to The WILL Center, 1 Dreiser Square, Terre Haute, IN.

Brazil Times -- Brazil, Indiana
September 27, 2015