Sally Russell Memorial Service

Sally Elaine Russell (nee Lewis), age 85 of Geneva, IL beloved wife of Phillip In Loving Memory of
Russell for 65 years, entered her heavenly home on December 30, 2020. She had
been living with Alzheimer’s dementia for the last several years. Sally Elaine Russell
Sally was born on October 3, 1935 in Ottumwa, Iowa, the first child of the late
Fred Lewis and Alma Lumsdon Lewis. She grew up in Ottumwa and graduated October 3, 1935 - December 30, 2020
from Ottumwa High School, with a wealth of family and friends nearby.

After her marriage in 1955, Phil and Sally moved to Aurora, IL. There, she
worked at the local bank and then had three children: John, Phyllis and Cathe-
rine. Her life was caught up in the everyday hustle and bustle of raising a fami-
ly. They moved in the late 1960s to Sugar Grove and became involved in the
community there.

Sally drove a bus for School District #302 for many years. Later, she worked
at the Bank of Sugar Grove, and then the United States Post Office (Sugar Grove,
Western Illinois, and Texas).

She worked for the Texas Rangers for 12 years as a tour guide and museum
docent. Everywhere Sally lived, she became a part of the local church: Aurora,
IL 7 years; Sugar Grove, IL 21 years; Galesburg, IL 7 years; Ft Worth, TX area 24
years; and recently Naperville/Geneva, IL 3 years.

From her days in high school all the way until she moved to Illinois from
Texas, Sally sang in a choir. Most recently, up until about 2017, she sang in her
church choir at First Baptist Church, Hurst, TX. Even while her cognitive abili-
ties declined, she was able to sing and participate in choir until it was time to
move to a new residence for her healthcare needs.

While through the years, Sally was Phil’s traveling partner all over the world,
some of her best times of travel included visiting and/or helping her family and
going fishing in Vergas, Minnesota. In the years they lived in Texas, they spent
many trips with friends, and trips with their church to support mission projects.
Her volunteer projects included mission trips to Mexico and Standing Rock In-
dian Reservation in North Dakota. She also led Sunday School classes and
AWANA. Sally was known for her mean peanut brittle.

She is survived by her husband, Phillip, and their three children John Russell
(Cheryl) of Collierville, TN, Phyllis Palmer (Kent) of Greenfield, WI, and Cathe-
rine Voirin (Terry) of Batavia, IL. Her grandchildren are Brian (Shannon), Brad-
ley (Carey) and Ben (Madison) Palmer; Elizabeth Russell and John Russell, II;
and Samuel Voirin and Charles Voirin. Her great grandchildren include Calvin,
Charlotte, Abigail, Ruby, Henry (Hank) and Theodore, plus one more in 2021.
She is also survived by her siblings James Lewis (Marylan) of Roseville, MN and
Maria Adams (William) of Saline, MI, and a great number of nieces, nephews
and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Mark Lewis
(Sue), and infant sister Christina.

Online guestbook courtesy of Hultgren Funeral Home at www.hultgrenfh.com

While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in Celebration of the Life of
the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an
alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of Sally Elaine Russell
pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume
on his head. Saturday, January 2, 2020 11:00 a.m.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to Hultgren Funeral Home, Wheaton, Illinois
one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could
have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the Welcome & Prayer Matthew 11:28-30
money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her
harshly. Hymn And Can It Be
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bother-
ing her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The Family Sharing
poor you will always have with you, and you can
help them any time you want. But you will not al- Scripture Selections Psalm 23:1-4
ways have me. She did what she could. She poured Isaiah 43:1-5
perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my Romans 8:37-39
burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is John 14:1-3
preached throughout the world, what she has done Revelation 7:16 & 17
will also be told, in memory of her.”
Song 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord O My Soul)
Mark 14:3-9 NIV
Message ‘She Did What She Could’
Mark 14:3-9

Special Music I Can Only Imagine

Expression of Thanks

Words of Committal Revelation 21:1-5

Benediction Numbers 6:24-26

Honorary Pallbearers:
Carol Collier, Mary Henry, Helen Jorgensen, Shelley Olson
Jan Quist, Cheryl Russell, Elizabeth Russell, Pam Sebern

Bonnie Spong, Pat Turner, Amanda Walton
Christie Weiss, Dee Westergren, Glenda Bilbrey

And Can It Be?

And can it be that I should gain
An int’rest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain—
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Refrain: Amazing love! How can it be,That
Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

He left His Father’s throne above—
So free, so infinite His grace—
Emptied Himself of all but love,
And bled for Adam’s helpless race:
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
For, O my God, it found out me!

Refrain

No condemnation now dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

And Can It Be?
Charles Wesley, pub.1738
Public Domain, CCLI: 11609396

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord O My Soul) Chorus

Chorus: Bless the Lord oh my soul And on that day
Oh my soul When my strength is failing
Worship His Holy name The end draws near
Sing like never before And my time has come
Oh my soul Still my soul will
I'll worship Your Holy name Sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years
The sun comes up And then forevermore
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again Bless the Lord oh my soul
Whatever may pass Oh my soul
And whatever lies before me Worship His Holy name
Let me be singing Sing like never before
When the evening comes Oh my soul
I'll worship Your Holy name
Chorus Yes I'll worship Your Holy name
Lord I'll worship Your Holy name
You're rich in love
And You're slow to anger 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord O My Soul)
Your name is great Writer/s: Jonas Myrin, Matt Redman
And Your heart is kind CCLI: 11609396
For all Your goodness
I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons
For my heart to find