Aurora's Butterball Turkey Talk Line Expert Honored Before Thanksgiving

AURORA, IL — Aurora resident Phyllis Kramer is known around town as having helped numerous families have a yummy turkey for Thanksgiving. Just before the holiday, City Council honored her for her efforts.

Kramer, a retired West Aurora High School home economics teacher, has spent 21 years answering innumerable calls at the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, a number people nationwide call when they need additional help preparing their Thanksgiving turkeys.

For the service, this is the busiest time of the year as thousands of calls are expected before, on and even the day after Thanksgiving, according to Aurora officials. Questions range from how to thaw turkeys to what to do with leftovers.

"Kramer considers it an honor to help ease the burdens on families during this time of year by advising them to do what’s best with the bird of the season," Chief Communications Officer Clayton Muhammad wrote in a news release.

The Aurora resident, who spent 37 years teaching youth how to cook, was given an Award of Excellence for keeping the city in "such a positive light nationally during her decades of dedication to helping others." Mayor Richard Irvin presented Kramer with the award Tuesday night.

The Butterball Turkey Talk-Line, at 800-288-8372, is available until Christmas Eve.