Eloise M. Snell

Eloise Burrill Snell

The fully lived life of Eloise Margaret Snell, 95, of Moorhead came to a peaceful end Wednesday, June 19, with family by her bedside.

Eloise was born in Minneapolis on November 8, 1917, the daughter of Rene and Molly Long Paradis. The family resided in Richfield, Minnesota, where Eloise graduated with honors from Holy Angels High School.

While attending the University of Minnesota, Eloise began dating Robert H. Bob Burrill. They were married February 15, 1941.

At the onset of World War II, Bob enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving four years. Following his discharge, Eloise and Bob moved to Detroit Lakes. Four years later, they moved to Moorhead.

Eloise worked many years at Nels Vogel Music in Moorhead, followed by employment with the Moorhead Housing Authority.

On august 21, 1969, Eloise married Orrin Ossie Snell.

Both Eloise and Ossie were avid golfers and when she scored a hole-in-one at a course in Granite Falls in July of 1972, Ossie had a trophy made for her commemorating the feat. Eloise continued to golf well into her 80’s

Among Eloise’s other activities were league bowling and bridge club. She also served as secretary on the Ponderosa Golf Club Board of Directors for many years.

While growing up, Eloise had extensive musical training in both piano and voice. Over the years, she sang at numerous weddings and funerals at Moorhead’s St. Joseph Catholic Church of which she was a member for sixty-two years. She also performed in local theatrical productions, including the opera “Carmen.”

Up until she fractured her hip in November of 2011, Eloise taught ESL three mornings a week – an experience she truly loved.

An avid Minnesota Vikings fan, Eloise was also a regular viewer of “Jeopardy,” a voracious reader, and did crossword puzzles daily.

She was also a lover of dachshunds, having five during her lifetime – most recently white and brown spotted Snoopy.

Eloise loved family gatherings be it Christmas time, a birthday party, or the annual Fourth of July get together at her sister and brother-in-law’s lake home in Victoria, Minnesota.

A vivacious and social lady, Eloise was filled with humor and love. She will be missed by many.
Eloise was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ossie, and sister Marguerite Melony.

She is survived by daughters, Wendy Simonson-Paradis and Rebecca Paradis; sons, Jeffrey and Bruce Chris Burrill; stepson, Chuck Snell; niece, Pam Gary Manteufel; grandchildren, Renee Eric Edmond, Beau Stephanie Heidelberg, and Hayley Roy Bester; great-grandchildren Kayla Ross, Myka and Tyus Edmond, and Reilly, Owen and Jack Heidelberg; step great-grandchildren, Sean O’Connor, Alison and Ariana Bester, and Carol, Julie, George, Charlie, Richard, and Katie Snell.

The funeral service for Eloise is Saturday, June 22, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Moorhead, MN, with visitation one hour prior to the service in the church.

Interment will be at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.

The family would like to give special thanks to Hospice of the Red River Valley for their wonderful care and ask that memorials be made to Hospice of the Red River Valley.