Aurelia Burbidge, 94, a loving sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of April 2, 2026.

Aurelia Rose Kunkle was born May 19, 1931, in Partridge Township, Illinois. She was the second of seven children and spent many of her childhood years helping her mother raise her siblings (especially her "sissy," Rita) and working on the farm. In 1950, she married Clarence "Bud" Burbidge, and together they raised five children: Burt (Marsha) Burbidge; Pam (Brad) Rhodes; Mark Burbidge; Paul (Laurie) Burbidge; and Eric (Casey) Burbidge. Aurelia was also blessed with nine grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Aurelia was a tiny but mighty little thing. Phrases you'd often hear when people spoke about her were, "She's a little firecracker," or, "She's a pistol." She definitely kept Bud on his toes. Bud passed on April 9, 1998, and after 28 years, Aurelia was finally reunited with her "John Wayne." There is no doubt that when he saw her in heaven, he lovingly said something along the lines of, "Oh boy!"

Aurelia was an avid reader and crossword puzzle solver, which kept her mind incredibly sharp, even in her final days. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, and yard work—and she would rearrange her furniture at least twice a week (sometimes twice a day). But where her heart and talent shone most was in her incredible paintings. Flowers, landscapes, buildings, birds, animals—she could do it all (except hands, she'd tell you). She and Bob Ross spent many days together, and she quickly built quite a collection of paintings that she was more than happy to gift to anyone who showed interest.

What Aurelia valued most was her family and her faith—clear in her animated expressions and contagious laughter as she recalled memories that were hilarious or deeply special to her, and in her daily rosary and chats with God. She didn't hear well, so He told her things straight to her brain.

If you want to honor Aurelia, do it the way she lived: love your people out loud, keep your mind sharp, say your prayers, and don't be afraid to be a tiny-but-mighty force in the room. And if you feel her nudge to move a chair, start a new project, or tell a story that makes everyone laugh—go ahead. That's her.