Castella “Cassie” Burrows

July 18, 1929 - November 8, 2020

MCCORDSVILLE - Castella “Cassie” St. Clair Heskamp Burrows, 91, died peacefully on Sunday, November 08, 2020, in McCordsville, IN, joining Leonard H. Burrows, her high school sweetheart and spouse of 63 years in eternal rest. She will be remembered as a friend to all with her enormous capacity to care for, serve, and love so many as a wife, mother, sister, friend, and nurse. Cassie believed that faith sustains us and nothing will come our way that we won’t be able to endure and overcome. She believed we are blessed with a spirit of great joy, not one of sadness. Born on July 18, 1929, in Louisville, KY, Cassie was a devoted mother to Susan Powers (David) of Austinburg, OH; Stephen Burrows of Mill Run, PA; Scot (Valerie) Burrows of Candia, NH; Stuart Burrows of Gibsonia, PA; Becky (Todd) Lohman of Indianapolis, IN; daughter-in-law Lisa Burrows of Gibsonia; and daughter-in-spirit Cathleen (Robert) Wiskemann of Wexford, PA. She also was blessed with eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. She is survived by her sister Margaret Sue Heskamp Bailey (Ron) of Syracuse, NY, and many dear, wonderful family and friends far and near. As the first female to be elected student council president, Cassie graduated from Lakewood High School (Ohio) in 1947. She then went to Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She continued her education at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, obtaining clinical experience in public health and obstetrics nursing, as well as a Graduate Nurse certificate. Cassie was a Registered Nurse in three states and worked at several hospitals and long-term care facilities before finding her dream job as a school nurse for Hampton Township and then North Hills Township school districts in the suburban Pittsburgh area. Many also may remember her as the summer nurse for Camp Trees (Valencia, PA) and Camp Soles (Somerset, PA). Cassie served as an elder and deacon for the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, PA, and was actively involved in the Women’s Circle. She enjoyed traveling, reading, word games, proper grammar, and good conversation! One of her favorite events each year was The Kentucky Derby. She rarely missed the Run for the Roses and always sang along when My Old Kentucky Home was played. Over the years, she and her husband hosted many foreign exchange students through the AFS-USA international program. They had the chance to later visit many of them, meeting their families and experiencing different countries and cultures. Cassie and Len also were members of several bridge clubs and involved in their college and high school alumni associations. Their home was always full of family, friends, and love. She is preceded in death by her father Henry Reade Heskamp, Sr. (son of Benjamin Henry Heskamp and Myrtie St. Clair Johnson); mother Florence Rebecca Beard Heskamp (daughter of John Richard Beard and Castella Thomas Winfrey); and brothers Henry Reade Heskamp, Jr. and Benjamin Lee Heskamp. A celebration of life will take place at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in memory of Cassie Burrows to: First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown, 5825 Heckert Rd, Bakerstown, PA 15007, www.fpcb.org/give; or Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901, www.DementiaSociety.org/donate. Friends may share a memory or condolence at www.erleweinmortuary.com. Arrangements are being handled by Erlewein Mortuary & Crematory in Greenfield, Indiana.