Obituaries
Northbrook Obituary: Corine Pawley Shirrell, 103
The former Northbrook resident was a teacher for more than 40 years and touched many lives.
Corine Pawley (Freeman) Shirrell of Northbrook, Illinois was born October 31, 1919 and passed away on Thursday, March 30. She was preceded in death in 1986 by her beloved husband of 38 years, Carl Shirrell. In her 103 years, she enriched the lives of her friends, family, and countless students over her 43 years of teaching elementary school, including 25 years at the Culver Elementary School in Culver, Indiana.
Corine grew up on a small farm near Rineyville, Kentucky where she learned how to read by five years old. She was the center on her women’s high school basketball team. Corine graduated from high school in 1937 at the top of her class, and went on to receive both Bachelor’s and Master's degrees in education at Western Kentucky University. Her early career included teaching in a one-room schoolhouse. After retiring, she was contacted by a former student, an Indiana mayor, who remembered her for her powerful influence.
Corine is most known for her spirituality and kindness. She was a lifelong member of a Methodist church community, Sunday school teacher, and regular church participant. She was a devout woman who truly loved others as herself.
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Corine will be dearly missed and never forgotten by her children, Robert (Nanci) Shirrell and Linda Shirrell; her five grandchildren Matt (Julie), Sara (Mabby), Aaron (Katie), Laura (Priya) and Emily (Craig); and 14 great grandchildren. She was the fond sister of the late Wendell (late Frances) Freeman and late Christine (late Johnny) Clark.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 4 at 3:00 p.m. at North Northfield United Methodist Church, located at 797 Sanders Road, Northbrook, IL 60062. This will be followed by a Life Celebration Service at 5:00 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Bethlehem Baptist Church cemetery next to her beloved husband, Carl. The interment will be at 10:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Thursday, April 6 at Bethlehem Baptist Church cemetery, located at 525 Temperance Road, Greensburg, KY 42743.
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In lieu of flowers, donations can be provided to the North Northfield United Methodist Church or Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, PO Box 3886, New York, NY 10163 www.everytown.org. Please share a story, leave a message or upload a photo at https://www.funerals.pro/obituaries/corine-pawley-shirrell or call 847.537.6600 for more information.
This obituary was provided by the Shirrell family. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
