Obituary of Ella M. Warney

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Ella Mae Warney Burrows, who departed this life on February 16, 2025, in Schenectady, NY. Born on December 28, 1950, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, Ella Mae was a woman of strength, humor, and boundless love. Ella grew up in South Carolina and attended Wright High School before moving to Brooklyn, NY, in 1966 to begin a new chapter in her life. She started her career at Marcel Mirrors and later dedicated herself to caring for others as a Nurse's Aide until her well-earned retirement. After her retirement, she moved to Schenectady, NY, where she continued to touch the lives of many with her warmth and wit. To know Ella was to love her. She had a gift for turning the simplest moments into joy, filling any room with laughter. With her quick wit and sharp tongue, she could give Richard Pryor and Bernie Mac a run for their money- always ready with a joke that left everyone in stitches. But just as much as she made people laugh, she made them feel at home, especially in the kitchen. If you every had the honor of tasting her cooking, you knew love was her secret ingredient- because every dish was unforgettable. Ella was preceded in death by parents, Elner Cook Warney and Edward Warney, her husband, Willie Arthur Burrows, her sister and brother, Grace and John Otis Warney, and her beloved sons, Keith and Howard Warney. She leaves behind a family who adored her: her loving children, Lisa Warney and Shawn Biggs; her dear siblings, Marilyn Warney, Elaine (Ronnie) Purvis; her partner in crime, Henrietta Montgomery, her treasured aunts, Isabella Williams, Idella Peterkin, and Carrie Peterkin; 7 nieces and 3 nephews; and a host of family and friends who will deeply miss her. Her legacy continues through her 20 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, who will forever carry her love, laughter, and wisdom in their hearts. Ella was the kind of person you never forget- a storyteller, a nurturer, the heart and soul of the gathering. Though she has left this world, her spirit lives on in every joke told, every meal shared, and every heart she touched. Rest easy, Ella Mae. Your laughter will echo in our hearts forever. In her honor the family encourages everyone to share a laugh and enjoy a meal just as she always did. A service to celebrate Ella Mae's beautiful life will be held on February 23, 2025, at 720 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY 12307.