Happy birthday to you, 'Aunt Lu'

HURON — Louella Mussell's family gathered Thursday afternoon to wish the 94-year-old a happy birthday. About 20 people arrived at Clipper Ship Cove Condominiums in Huron, where they — in drive-by-like fashion — honked car horns and cheered for the nonagenarian. Born April 28, 1927, in Sandusky, "Aunt Lu" as she is known by family, emerged onto her balcony with a look of surprise. She waved to the gathered family while wearing a smile. Louella's niece, Julie Koegle, said the family put on a similar event last year, and it "made her millennium," so they decided to do it again this year. Koegle said her aunt is a great cook who makes an amazing lasagna dish. Louella said she considers herself lucky to have a good family and that she enjoyed being a wife, mother and homemaker. She raised seven children: Marie Siegfried, Jim Siegfried, Bob Seigfried, Linda Davridge, Diane Keaimes, Rick Siegfried and Janie Siegfried. She married Ernie Siegfried in March 1946 in New York. She later married Nick Mussell, who passed away from cancer after 13 months of marriage. For 10 years, she spent her winters in Sarasota, Florida, where she enjoyed ballroom dancing with her partner, Joe Krupi. Also while in Florida, she joined the Red Hat Society. The family celebrated Louella's birthday Wednesday with dinner at Marconi's Italian Restaurant, one of her favorite restaurants.