Mary Catherine Burns

Mary Catherine (Collins) Burns passed away on January 1, 2025 at the age of 101 at Autumn House in Melbourne, FL. Mary was born in Norwalk, CT on October 17, 1923 to Thomas Andrew Collins and Helen F. O’Brien Collins. After graduating from Norwalk High School at age 16, she attended the University of Connecticut.

Mary worked at the Savings and Loan Bank in Norwalk and in August 1945 married Gilbert A. Burns, upon his return from serving in the Army in the South Pacific Solomon Islands during WWII.

Mary and Gil moved their family to Newtown, CT in 1959. When their children were in school Mary worked in the office at Fairfield Hills Hospital and then as a realtor for a few years. In 1975 Mary and Gil relocated to Pompano Beach, FL, and again worked for a short while in real estate. After her husband’s death in 1992, Mary moved to Jupiter and then finally to Melbourne to be closer to family.

Always a smile on her face, Mary had a conversation with everyone she met. Mary enjoyed volunteering at Insight for the Blind and Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Jupiter Hospital and later at the VA Clinic in Viera. She loved playing the piano, reading, crossword puzzles, bridge, knitting and crocheting. She also loved getting together with her sister and brother in law, Betty and Art, in California.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Gil, son Peter, brother Thomas, sister Elizabeth Cummings and brother Robert.

She is survived by her sons Gilbert (Susan) Burns and Lawrence (Wendy) Burns, daughter Patricia (William) Greenleaf, grandsons Kevin Burns and Benjamin Greenleaf and granddaughters Lauren Burns Dever, Erin Burns Mehigan, Lucy Greenleaf Carter and Courtney Burns Cherry and 9 great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 22, 2025 at 1:00 pm with visiting at 12:30 at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Viera, FL.