Arcelia ‘Sherrie’ McConnell

March 6, 1924 – October 16, 2019

Arcelia “Sherrie” McConnell passed away peacefully on October 16. She was 95. She is now happily reunited with her husband, Lorimer (“Lorry”), and all of her other loved ones who have passed on.

She was born in Pirtleville, Arizona, and moved to Los Angeles when she was about 9 years old. She was the youngest of eight sisters and one brother, all deceased. She graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1943 and wanted to attend UCLA, but since her father had passed away when she was 12, she had to work to help support her mother and siblings.

A high school teacher highly recommended her for a job as assistant claims supervisor and interpreter at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Since her mother was from Mexico and Spanish was her first language, she was fluent in Spanish.

She met Lorry McConnell at a dance in Hollywood and they were married eight months later. They loved to dance and continued to swing dance throughout their marriage at various events. A favorite spot for them was the American Legion, where big bands played for special events.

They lived in Gardena, California, until their daughters, Michelle and Leslie, were teenagers. Sherrie was a devoted mother. She was very active at her daughters’ grade school, made clothes and costumes for them, and cooked tasty meals for the whole family. She also loved baking, decorating cakes and making cards.

Since she and Lorry were theatre lovers, she sold tickets to plays and worked at the box office at the Gardena Valley Playmakers, where Lorry directed, produced and acted in plays.

After moving to Pacific Palisades, she worked at Home Savings and Loan for a few years, then at the J. Paul Getty Museum as a receptionist and secretary, until retiring in 1989. She and Lorry loved art and attending the many events at the Getty Museum, Villa and Center.

She and Lorry were involved in Bible study and the senior group at Corpus Christi Church, and since they were huge Bruin fans, they attended many events at UCLA. Sherrie was a member of the Assistance League of Santa Monica and volunteered at their “bargain bazaar.”

They took many road trips with the family along the California coastline, Arizona, Mexico, a few other western states, including Montana, to visit relatives. As a couple, they travelled to other U.S. states and Europe.

They loved spending time with their grandchildren­­—taking them on trips, attending school performances, games and birthday parties—all documented in countless photographs and videos.

Surviving are her daughters, Michelle McConnell and husband Darren Schenck, Leslie McConnell Sullivan and husband Jim Sullivan, and her two granddaughters, Sarah Sullivan Mertel and husband Tom Mertel, and Catherine Sullivan.

A funeral Mass followed by a reception will be held at Corpus Christi Church in Pacific Palisades on November 9 at 10 a.m. If you wish, please send donations in her honor to the Assistance League of Santa Monica, 1453 15th St., Santa Monica, CA 90404.