Barbara Devine Burnell, 89, a longtime resident of Winnetka, died Aug. 26 at Spring Lake Village in Santa Rosa, Calif. Born in Pueblo, Colo., she was a 1935 Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Northwestern University. She lived most of her life in Winnetka, where she attended the Alta Guild of Christ Church and raised four children. Family members said Mrs. Burnell infused her grandchildren with her adventuresome spirit and intellectual curiosity, urging them to pursue their dreams. “She was and still is the center of the family,” said her daughter, Jennet Burnell Lingle. “She liked to read a lot, do new things and see new places, and she loved her grandchildren and their differences. She always told them to be confident, and she was a confidante to them… She was a cool grandmother.” Mrs. Burnell moved to California three years ago. Family members were also proud of Mrs. Burnell for her award-winning floral arrangements. Mrs. Burnell is also survived by another daughter, Ruth Joy Burnell; two sons, Gregory Thomas and Edward; 11 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Christ Church, 784 Sheridan Rd., Winnetka.
