Amerilla M Donnel

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, September 12, 2015 in Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Shelbyville, IL with Father Don Wolford officiating. Visitation will be from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Saturday in the church. Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, IL. Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or the Memorial Sunken Garden Project in Forest Park, Shelbyville, IL.

Mrs. Donnel was born on February 20, 1925 in Ville Platte, LA, the daughter of Maurice and Loula Fontenot Manuel. She graduated from Immaculate Conception High School, Opelousas, LA in the class of 1943. She married Woodrow Donnel on February 4, 1944, and worked tirelessly on the family grain & livestock farm. Later, after raising the family of 6 children, Amerilla worked for Carl Grabb Motors, then Mode O’Day women’s clothing & then started her own business called Amerilla’s Fashions, with stores in Shelbyville, Mattoon & Charleston and provided numerous style shows in the surrounding areas.

She is survived by her daughters, Carolyn Sherwood (Sid) of Loudon, TN, Ginnie Moody of Dalton City, IL, Catherine Crane of Arlington, VA; sons, Gary Donnel (Pam) of Shelbyville, IL, Darryl Donnel (Julie) of Cypress, TX, Troy Donnel of Shelbyville, IL; brother, Clifton Manuel (Lois) of Lafayette, LA; sisters, Leola Manuel of Opelousas, LA and Jane Fingerhut of Humble, TX; sister-in-law Nada Manuel of Opelousas, LA; six grandchildren, Rhonda Meismer (John), Melissa Moody, Chad Donnel (Dena), Michelle Moody, Brandi Hughes (Brandon), Sarah Donnel; and seven great grandchildren, Abby Donnel, Ashley Donnel, Dax Meismer, Haley Meismer, Sloan Plummer, Quinn Plummer and Fallon Hughes.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Roderick & John.