Burns

Mary E. Burns, 86, of Chicora died at 4:17 a.m. Thursday at Butler Memorial Hospital.

Born Aug. 23, 1922, in Chicora, she was the daughter of John A. Stella Blatt Burns.

She was well known in Chicora for her work at Uber's Clothing store where she was employed for more than 50 years, having walked up and down the hill for work everyday.

She was a Girl Scout leader for years. She was a member of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, Chicora, where she had served on the church council and had taught CCD classes. She was a lector and a member of the Christian Mothers of the church for years. Mary belonged to Legion of Mary Auxiliary of the church in which she was very active for years. She received the Transfiguration of the Kingdom Award from Bishop Donald Whorrel of the Pittsburgh Diocese for all her volunteer work at the church throughout the years. She also delivered Meals on Wheels in Chicora for Lutheran Services.

She is survived by four sisters, Catherine Burns of Chicora, Sr. Therese Burns, S.C., of Greensburg, Sr. Mary Michael Burns, S.C., of Pittsburgh, and Patricia Bogniak of Corry; two brothers, Regis P. Burns of Erie and Robert L. Burns of Chicora; 43 nieces and nephews; and 85 grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was preceded in death by six brothers, the Rev. John A Burns, C.S. Sp., Charles W. Burns, Philip Burns, Bernard Burns, James Burns, and Thomas Burns; a sister, Agnes L. Maloney; two nieces, Sr. Margaret Burns, S.C., and Colleen Maloney; and a nephew, Patrick Maloney.

Mary wrote and produced a weekly family bulletin for 55 years, which kept her family intact.

<B>BURNS</B>— Friends of Mary E. Burns, who died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at <B>Steighner Funeral Home</B>, 111 E. Slippery Rock and Main streets in Chicora.A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church, 409 N. Main St., Chicora, with the Rev. David DeWitt officiating. Burial will be in Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sisters of Charity, DePaul Center, Greensburg, Pa 15601 or to People Concerned for the Unborn Child.