Adell Howell

1933-2017

Adell Howell passed away on October 22, 2017 from continuing complications following a stroke. Adell was born on July 3, 1933 in Zion, Illinois to Hilmar and Elsie Larsen.

In 1940, the family moved to Vallejo and two years later, relocated to Napa when Adell was 9 years old. Adell attended Lincoln Elementary, Napa Jr. High School and graduated from Napa High in 1951. She went on to earn her AA Degree from Napa Junior College.

Adell met her future husband, Bob, at a Mare Island USO dance near the end of the Korean War. They were engaged on New Year’s Eve, and on June 21, 1953, Adell Larsen married Robert Howell.

Their marriage brought three children, Holly, Cari and Rob. Due to Adell’s strong Christian faith, she had a passion to serve her community and especially the youth. Her volunteer efforts included Community Projects, PTA, Blue Birds and Campfire Girls. She was also very active in the 1st Presbyterian Church, United Presbyterian Women, The Happening youth program and Young Life. Bob and Adell opened their home as a Napa County Foster Receiving Home, and hosted foreign exchange students from several countries.

Adell worked as a Victim Witness Advocate for the Volunteer Center of Napa for approximately five years, serving and supporting victims of sexual assault. She later also worked part-time for Napa Food Center.

After the passing of her husband, Bob, in 1998, Adell continued to volunteer her time at the Women’s Clothing Center and served at The Table. She participated in multiple Bible Study groups and attended First Christian Church. Adell kept in close contact with many of her high school girlfriends and cherished those friendships.

After 57 years of living in their family home on Somerset Place, making life-long friends and celebrating 4th of July with a huge block party each year, Adell decided to make the transition to move to the Meadows of Napa Valley in 2012. She embraced all that the Meadows had to offer through taking trips, attending plays, becoming a ‘Welcome Ambassador’ and making many new friends while re-connecting with some old friends.

Adell suffered a stroke in December of 2016 and spent the remainder of her life at the Meadows Care Center. Her family is extremely grateful for the compassionate and dedicated care given to Adell through her final days.

Adell was predeceased by her husband, Robert W. Howell. She is survived by her daughter Holly Koford and her husband, Doug, and grandchildren Kelly Matteri and Rob, Erica “Katie” Stith and Philip and, Eric Koford and Adrianne, her daughter Cari McDermott, and her son Robert Howell and his wife, Judy and granddaughters Megan and Kendall Howell. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren, Leo, Nicholas, Makeda, John, Addison, and Josephine.

Services will be held at Tulocay Funeral Home on Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 10:00 AM with reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Adell’s name to The Table, 1333 Third St. Napa or napatable.org

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