Aniela (Nellie) Dziura Duraj, 89, of Shelby, Mississippi, died on Sunday, December 11, 2011, at North Sunflower Medical Center. Visitation will be Thursday, December 15, at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Shelby, Mississippi. Officiants will be Reverend P.J. Curley of Vicksburg and Reverend Kent Bowlds of Cleveland. Interment will be held at Shelby Cemetery. Ray Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Nellie was born on June 19, 1922, in Zielone, Poland, to Michael and Anna Dziura. In 1946, she married Edward Duraj in Butzbach, Germany. Three years later they came to the United States as immigrants sponsored by the Knowlton Family of Perthshire, Mississippi. In 1965, she and her husband moved to Shelby, Mississippi, and owned and operated Edward's Grocery for forty years. She was appreciated by many for her delicious Polish and German dishes.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Duraj, and her parents and six siblings in Poland.
Her survivors include the following: John Duraj (Linda), Maria Johnson (Bruce), Theresa Balducci, all of Shelby; Zofia Lindsey (Don) of Cleveland; and Nellie Ellington (David) of Webb. She is also survived by ten grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons: John Duraj, Jr., Christopher Duraj, Patrick Johnson, Justin Johnson, Chad Ellington, Heath Blount, Brandon Balducci, Josh Duraj, and Sid Melton.
The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the wonderful staff at North Sunflower Medical Center. Thank you for all the snacks and drinks you brought in for our large family during Mother's final hours. We also offer a special thanks to her sitter, Fannie Knight.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Jude's or a charity of one's choice.
First Visitation
10:00 am - 11:00 am Thursday, December 15, 2011
St. Mary's Catholic Church 700 Second Street Shelby, Mississippi, United States
Service Information
11:00 am Thursday, December 15, 2011
St. Mary's Catholic Church 700 Second Street Shelby, Mississippi, United States
Interment Information
Shelby Cemetery Shelby Shelby, Mississippi, United States