Melva Alvada Strong Burrill

STRONG BURRILL, Melva Alvada Melva Alvada Strong Burrill died peacefully at home May 6, 2019 in Wooster, Ohio. Melva was born on October 3, 1936 to Merritt and Della (Best) Strong in Waterville, Kings Co., Nova Scotia. She attended Central Kings Rural High School, and earned her teaching certificate at then Nova Scotia Normal School. Melva taught elementary school in Canada before emigrating to the US in 1966 with James Burrill, whom she married in 1960 and divorced in 1997. She went on to earn her BS in Psychology and in 1994 an MA in Education at Rockford College in Illinois. Melva substitute taught and was a Girl Scout Leader, Sunday School and ESL teacher, soccer mom, Hospice Volunteer, ALPA strike organizer, and loving grandparent of her kids’ seven children and her two great-grandchildren. She always identified as a country girl from Nova Scotia, and loved the views of the Ohio hills from her home in Wooster. Melva was eternally thankful for her many blessings and gifts, and called to live as Christ’s disciple. She is survived by her sister, Sharol Pinch, Dundas, Ontario; children, Laureen Carpenter of Mansfield, OH, Deana Burrill Chupp (Steve) of Denver, CO, Tracey Burrill (Thomas Hedeman) of Cheshire, CT and Jeffrey Burrill (Julia Warnes) of Erie, OH and many cousins, nieces, and nephews in Nova Scotia. She was preceded in death by brothers, Roy and Royal Bickford Strong (Carol), and was recently joined in heaven by sisters, Hazel Carter (Vic) and Effie Weir (Fred), both of Nova Scotia. Melva’s remains will be brought home to rest with her family at Cambridge (Station) Cemetery on September 18 at 11 a.m. with an informal gathering to share remembrances. A memorial service will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Wooster, Ohio on October 5 at 2 p.m. Please share your memories of Melva by e-mailing daughter Deana at [email protected]