DAVID HENRY BURNS

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DAVID HENRY BURNS After a full and blessed life, Dave Burns passed away Sunday, March 18, 2007, at the Taché Centre. He was predeceased by his loving wife and lifelong friend, Betty, his parents, and his four brothers and two sisters. Left to celebrate his memory are his sons, Fr. Jack, s.j., Dave (Jocelyn), Bill (Jan), and his daughter Trish (Don) and his six grandchildren, Matthew, Shelley, Meghan, Bridget, Jillian and Tom and many nieces and nephews. Dad was born in Montreal on August 6, 1915, and his family moved to Winnipeg in 1921. The youngest of his family, he survived an early childhood sickness requiring experimental surgery to become the longest living member of his family. A lifelong career with the CPR was interrupted by service in the Navy during the Second World War. Prior to the war, Dad met the love of his life on the ski train from LaRivière. With the war over, Mom and Dad were married in December, 1945 and began a life together that spanned five decades. Family was everything to Dad and he lived his life with joy watching his children grow. Whether it was trips to the park, the hockey rink, dance recitals or holidays at Falcon Lake he was always present. Pop always made time for his kids and his legacy is the gift of so many wonderful family memories we are left to cherish. In later life, his grandchildren became another deep source of joy. Grampa's knee was always a warm and loving place most often claimed by the youngest of the clan. His inviting smile and gentle manner won the heart of every child he encountered. Dad will be remembered most for the love he had for Mom. No one could ask for a better example of the fidelity of marriage. Mom was Dad's best friend and he was most happy spending time with her. Old age claimed most of his eyesight but that did not stop him from visiting mom every day for the four years she spent in Taché. She was his soul mate and his loving example is a lesson and a guide to his children and grandchildren, Dad was a wonderful story teller and we all grew up on tales of the Navy, altar serving for the Archbishop, trips to Lake Winnipeg in his dad's Hudson or battling the 1950 flood. He also was a man of deep faith and it is with joy and gratitude that a Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated at Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church on Dubuc Street by his son Jack and our dear family friend Fr. Bert Foliot, s.j., on Wednesday, March 21 at 2:00 p.m. The service will terminate at the church. The family would like to express a special word of thanks to the nursing staff on 4DE of Taché Centre for looking after Dad so kindly over the past five months. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the CNIB. We'll all miss your physical presence but you will always be with us. LECLAIRE BROTHERS in care of arrangements. 775-2220.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 20, 2007