Annette Michele Burwell, 90

April 30, 2025

Annette Michele (Petruzziello) Burwell, 90, passed away at her sweet little cottage in Lititz, PA, on April 30, 2025.

Annette was born in Palisades Park, New Jersey, to Anna (Rubow) and Alfred Petruzziello. Her independent spirit was born and honed in New Jersey, growing up in the city and navigating on her own using the municipal bus system that took her to school and, later, work. After high school she ventured to Minnesota and received a certificate in Medical Technology before moving to Pennsylvania and starting a family. She continued her college education first at Penn State then at Kutztown State College and became a teacher librarian. She was the school librarian at Jacksonwald Elementary School for 23 years, retiring in 1997. During her tenure she was known to invent creative ways to engage students, including one infamous musical number changing Michael Jackson’s song “Beat It” into “Read It” cajoling her children into singing falsettos for the taped production.

Memories and Annette’s famous phrases:

She lived by her motto “Go and do” throughout her life and right up to her passing, banging away during her well-loved Luther Acres activity Drumline, strolling the quad with neighbors’ dogs, and dining out with friends. (As a matter of fact, Annette was so enamored with Drumline that she shared with her doctor and friends that if she was supposed to die on a day scheduled for Drumline she would refuse and would wait until the next day. This, in fact, happened.) She was an adventurous world traveler (“Wagons Ho!”) taking in the splendor of the Grand Canyon, hiking through Tuscany, and exploring caves in Bermuda. She loved New York City, was fearless navigating the streets, finding the best ethnic restaurants, and deals for Broadway tickets. She rejected taxis, no matter the weather, and simply marched herself and her children along the long, long Avenues of the city.

Throughout her life she found joy and satisfaction in volunteering, first at the Reading Hospital and Wilson Area Food Pantry, then more recently at Meals on Wheels, Re-Uzit (“Make it last, use it up”) and at Luther Acres helping with the library, strawberry festival, mail delivery and watering treasured ferns.

She was a long-time member of Advent Lutheran Church, West Lawn, and cherished attending church services in different communities, particularly enjoying the Lititz Moravian Christmas Lovefeast Service and the Christmas Eve service at Belfast First Church, reveling in the hymns, candlelight, and spirit of each congregation.

For those who knew Annette she had robust opinions and wasn’t shy about sharing them with family, friends, and newspaper editors (“I’m always right”). She was strong, fiercely independent, and showered her loved ones with advice (remember, she was always right), quirky sense of humor and generous and thoughtful gifts.
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Annette loved to read, particularly unique memoirs and would recommend the following titles: Too Close to the Falls, That Quail Robert, any Bill Bryson book (except for The Body or At Home) and Mountains Beyond Mountains.

When it came to pets, she never met a dog or cat she didn’t like and her stash of bottomless treats was a testament to that affection. No dog would ever leave her house hungry and would probably be just a tad overweight.

She was a food connoisseur and master cook and needed few recipes to produce amazing meals. Her lasagna, seafood chowder, Spanish rice, and apple pie are the stuff of legends, and she once broke a home record for the tallest lemon meringue pie at 8”. (Please contact her children for her Spanish rice recipe, it’s really that good.) She was always interested in trying new foods and at restaurants she was notorious for ordering so many dishes that she became the queen of doggy bags. The last time the family ate at The Exchange in Lancaster, Annette matter of factly shared with the server that “We order everything on the left-hand side of the menu; oh, and the pizza, too.”

Annette is survived by her three children, Cindy B. Koch (Ronald) of Wyomissing, PA, George C. Burwell (Elizabeth Coleman) of Massachusetts, Susan L. Burwell (Seth Benz) of Maine, four grandchildren: Chelsea (Ian), Wesley (Erin), Grant and Torrie, three great grandchildren: Ellyette, Hadley and Layken, as well as her brother, Michael and her sister, Frieda. She was predeceased by her older sister, Mildred.

She will always be remembered for her incredible strength and spirit, generosity, and love.
“Love ya” – Mom.

A celebration of her life will be held on July 9, 11:00, at the chapel at Luther Acres, Lititz, PA, followed by refreshments in the community room. Instead of flowers donations to some of her favorite charities would be appreciated and can be made to Re-Uzit (New Holland, PA), Meals on Wheels, Doctors without Borders, Heifer International, Hope Rescue Mission, Salvation Army, Lititz Public Library, One by One Cat Rescue, or any other animal rescue.