Shirley Burns
1937-2018
Bathurst – It is with
profound sadness that the family of Mrs. Shirley Margaret Burns
announces her passing on Friday, November 30th,
2018, at the Chaleur Regional Hospital with her loving family by her
side.
Shirley was born in Barnaby River, NB
and was the daughter of the late John Edward Bohan and Theresa
Catherine (Grennan) Bohan.
She graduated from St.
Mary’s (Convent) Academy in Newcastle in 1956. She
then furthered her studies at the New Brunswick Teacher’s
College in Fredericton graduating in 1957. Her teaching
career included schools in Barnaby River, Canadian Forces Base –
Chatham, Montreal Que., Schefferville Que., and Bathurst.
In 1968 she married Raymond Burns
(from Newcastle, NB), and they settled in Bathurst to commence their
working lives. After having four children, and at the age of
42, she decided to pursue a career as a Registered Nurse, and
graduated from the Bathurst School of Nursing in 1981.
A lover of life, Shirley lived every
moment to the fullest. She was fiercely proud of her Irish heritage
and instilled this sense of pride in her four children and eight
grandchildren of which she was intensely proud. For the past
20 years, she spent every summer, with her beloved family, at
Beresford Beach making merry by the fire, dancing an Irish jig to
whatever song was being sung by family and
friends.
A selfless sibling, Shirley was the
first to respond in a crisis; a leader, and beacon of support when
someone was in need. As a loving mother and grandmother,
Shirley taught her family the value of a dollar and hard work; the
importance of being organized and planning ahead; the meaning of
family and doing the right thing. Helping others was at the
core of who she was in her family and professional life as a wife,
daughter, mother, grandmother, sibling, teacher, nurse, and
friend.
Besides her husband of 50 years, she
is survived by her sons: Greg (Andrea Anderson), Chris
(Colleen Comeau), Andrew (Alison Gray), and daughter Jocelyn (John
McCue). Grandchildren: Amanda (David Crossman), Kaitlyn, Catherine,
Emma, Elizabeth, and Emily Burns, as well as William and Kathleen
McCue.
She is also survived by her seven
sisters: Mary Ronan (late Raymond), Doreen O’Shea (late
James), Mona Waye (late Arthur), Ruby Hutchison (Harry) all of
Miramichi; Joyce Gill (late Kevin) of Barnaby River, Brenda Bohan of
Fredericton, and Lois Sherwood (John) of Norton; and one brother,
Blair Bohan of Barnaby River; several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and
nephews, cousins, and many cherished friends. She is also survived by
brother-in-law Reginald Daley, Gerald Burns (late Mary), and
sister-in-law Barbara Robertson
(Bill).
Shirley is predeceased by one sister:
Eleanor Daley and a brother John Bohan Jr., sister-in-law Noreen
O’Shea (Neil), Reta Burns, Eleanor Stinson (Bill)
brother-in-law Leonard(Buddy)Burns(Rita), and brother-in-law Robert
Burns (Beatrice).
Despite the obvious void created by
her passing, her family will forever be grateful for having known and
loved her. The values she instilled; her caring, generous
personality; and her devotion to family are part of the legacy that
will live on in their
hearts.
The family is indebted to the nursing
staff and physicians at the Chaleur Regional Hospital, specifically to
Dr. Marc André Doucet and Dr. Terry Comeau at the Saint
John Regional Hospital.
At Shirley’s request, there
will be no visitation at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will
be celebrated on Tuesday December 4, 2018 at 1pm from Holy Family
Church, Bathurst.
Donations may be made to the Chaleur
Regional Hospital Foundation, the Saint John Regional Hospital
Foundation, or to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are in the
care of Elhatton’s Funeral Home (www.elhatton.com),
Bathurst.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Shirley Burns 19372018..
Death notice for the town of: Beresford, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick