Maria Del Refujio Pennell

Maria Del Refujio Pennell, 33, passed away on Monday, December 8, 2025 at WakeMed Hospital in Cary.

Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 21 at St. Mark's Community Church, 1230 St. Mark's Church Rd in Burlington with Pastor Pete Stearns officiating. Burial will follow in the Gibsonville City Cemetery. The family will greet friends beginning at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the church.

Maria was born in Orange County, California on January 27, 1992, the daughter of Jorge Hernandez Sanchez and Maria Graciella Basurto. She was a graduate of Westwood College in California with a degree in Business Administration and Marketing Management. She went on to also acquire a culinary degree as she loved cooking. Maria was employed by the City of Burlington as a Permit Specialist. Her father, Jorge, precedes her in death.

Surviving are her husband Jacob W. Pennell of the home; mother Maria Basurto; brother Jorge Hernandez Basurto; sister Leticia Hasse (Timothy); Jacob’s parents Robert and Trina Pennell; sister-in-law Trisha McCain (Donovan); nieces and nephew Madelyn and Sabrina Hasse and Edmund and Evelyn Kester.

Walker’s Funeral Home of Mebane is honored to serve Maria’s family.