Edwena Brunell

I was edwenas hair dresser for many years in chicago I loved her like my own sister she would come in and get her hair done and she was a breath of fresh air I enjoyed her company more than anything I was very sad when she moved to florida becasue I was gonna miss my friend she was very encouraging to me as I homeschool my son and gave great teaching advice specially about the tadpole science experiment lol I loved her and will truly miss her maryjo crachy

I met Edwena back in the 1990s through the Prince fan club. I still have pictures of us from when we went to Minneapolis and to the Joffrey Ballet. I am saddened to learn of her passing. We bonded over a mutual fascination with Prince and a love of felines. I will never forget the times we shared. I moved away from Chicago several years ago but I never forgot Edwena. She loved very strongly- whether it was her family, students, friends or her kitties....and, of course, Prince, too. She always kept going strong-no matter what. She is in God's protective embrace now. I miss you, Edwena. Love, Genita

To everyone who knew and loved Edwena,
I met her online and that may seem odd, but we have been friends for over 7 yrs. I followed Big Brother online and so did "edo" her screen name. She became like a mom to me. She called me on birthdays and at Christmas and my son knew her by name. We developed a really close relationship. I am a teacher, and Edwena talked me through anxious and difficult times in my career. She has MANY true online friends who are devastated to find out about her death. We followed her weight loss and the details of her adversity connected to her leg wound/ spider bite. We all wish we could have let her know how much we cared. Please know we loved "Edo" and we heard so much about her nieces and nephews ..."the babies" and her cat babies...especially Skimmer! RIP Edo... you are forever in my heart!
Sincerely,
Tina/Reality Junky or RJ

Bless & Love,,,Ms. Brunell

Dear Val & Family,

My sister, my daughter, and myself along with many neighborhood children knew Edwena because of taking dance lessons from your mom. Please accept my condolences on the lost of your sister. Time goes on and so many things change. God bless you all and he will help you get through this.

Jeanie Madia (corner building by alley. Angie & Rex Madia's daughter)

I am so sorry to hear of her passing. Ms. Burnell was my son's kindergarten teacher at St. James. She was an awesome teacher, very caring and showed concern for her students. After St. James closed, she continued to keep up with him. Rest in Peace.

I am sorry to hear of Edwena's passing, and wish strength and comfort to her family and friends. Jan and I were fortunate to have her as a friend since college. (and the cats of course.)

As Edwena's niece, it is remarkable to see the similarities between us! I am a kindergarten teacher who delights in sharing the natural world with my students. I have a turtle and rabbit at school which I transport weekly, I have several cats at all times, and I, too, have had my share of dreams about Prince!

To Val, Magdalena, Laura, Julie and Emma, I offer my deepest sympathy and prayers for peace and comfort. Edwena loved and cherished all of you so much. She spoke of you lovingly, and I came to know you through her pride and joy in you. She would call, giddy with excitement, as she contemplated and picked out just the right gift for each of you on birthdays and holidays (especially you, Emma!) I was amazed at her capacity to love, care for, and nurture others. Her devotion to her mother, determined to care for her at home, as she would want, those last years was inspiring. I admired the way she lovingly doted on her kindergartners - finding creative ways to engage and educate them, using her own funds to insure that they had needed books, supplies and project materials to provide a strong educational foundation. And her "boys", (let's not forget Nelson!) were the best kept cats around! But she also extended that same love to her friends, always supportive and encouraging, concerned and compassionate, cheerful and witty - even while struggling through her own ordeals. I will miss my friend.
Jet

I will always remember that Edwina brought light and laughter into the room with her. Her wonderful laugh! The love she had for her family shone in her eyes as well.

My deepest sympathies to Val and his family. I spent many a Saturday morning with Edwina waiting for my dance class to start. Her mother Genevieve taught the class and she kept order in the waiting room where there would be up to twenty little girls and their moms milling about. I was ten years old at the time and can remember our conversations about everything from The Beatles to women's rights; she spoke to me as though I were an adult. I will remember those days as the best of my life. She was a wonderful woman who like her mother, inspired generations of young Bridgeport women.

Edwena was a very special caring wonderful person to those of us sharing her interest in the musician Prince in the early nineties. i can only imagine how special she was to her family and those who loved her. best, shane ford