Lee Morrell

H. Leone "Lee" Morrell September 24, 1925 - October 3, 2022 Lee Morrell died peacefully at Lourdes Senior Community in Waterford, MI on October 3 shortly after celebrating her 97th birthday. Lee was born in Warwick Village, Ontario, Canada on September 24, 1925 to Orval and Violet (Dupee) Richardson and they moved to Michigan when she was 3. Her two brothers, Blake and Robert Richardson preceded her in death. Lee graduated from Royal Oak High School and worked for the Friend of the Court in Pontiac. She met and married Gordon E. Morrell (deceased) on February 18, 1951 and they had 5 children. Paul Morrell (deceased), Joan Morrell-Gregorka (David Gregorka), Alan Morrell (deceased), Gail Morrell (Steve Gordon) and infant son, Joel Morrell (deceased). After Paul and Alan's tragic deaths in 1965, Lee returned to work in the Royal Oak School system, eventually settling in as a secretary in the Counseling Office at Kimball High School. Lee was an amazing seamstress, sewing many outfits for Joan and Gail as well as for herself and the grandchildren. She was a very talented quilter, and knitter too; often doing what she called the "shit work" (sewing Joan's knitting projects together). She adored all babies, especially grand and great grandchildren, and never missed an opportunity to visit or to care for them. Affectionately known as "Granny" to her 6 grandchildren, Brad (Brett) Gregorka, Alison (Erik) Knoedler, Andrea Gregorka (Kyle DiRenzo), Brian Gregorka, Todd (Christine) Dudzinski, and Jon Dudzinski (Emma Farrell), and 9 great grandchildren - Case, Cohen and Seth Dudzinski; Hannah and Elizabeth Knoedler; Avery and Emery Gregorka; and twins Penny and Piper DiRenzo, who all adored her. She also loved to bake and cook for family and friends. She was an amazing Mom, Granny, Grandma, Grandma next-door, Grandma Lee, Great Granny and friend. She will be missed. Lee suffered from multiple cancers during her long life, amazingly surviving all of them, and earning her nickname "the Energizer Bunny." Her keen interest in quilting connected her to an amazing group of friends with a common interest - quilting. She will be missed by members of the Great Lakes Heritage Quilters, the Greater Ann Arbor Quilt Guild, as well as the Happy Quilters! She volunteered at Gilda's Club and the American Cancer Society. She was an active member at St. John's United Methodist Church, and then at Big Beaver United Methodist Church where she worked on many committees and helped in the nursery on Sundays. Burial has taken place in the Roseland Park Cemetery, and a Celebration of Lee's Life is planned at the Wm. Sullivan & Son Funeral Home in Royal Oak on Friday, October 14 (Visitation at 10:00 am, Service at 11:00 am). In lieu of flowers, donations in Lee's name can be made to Big Beaver United Methodist Church, 3753 John R Road, Troy, MI 48083 (www.bbumchurch.org/donate) or the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org), or Trinity Health at Home - Southeast Michigan (https://donate.trinityhealthathome.org)