Obituaries

John Claude BurnsMay 22, 1932 – January 24, 2016   John C. Burns, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend died on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at St. Boniface Hospital, at the age of 83 years. He bore recent health setbacks with dignity and passed peacefully surrounded by the love of his family.   Remaining to cherish John’s memory are his wife Gail Burns (nee Doody), their seven children and their spouses, Kevin (Christine Bankier), Nora (Jim Cristall), Tim (Cleone Grasham), Margaret (Scott MacKay), Michael, Paul (Rosslyn Berot) and Ken (Michelle Burns). John delighted in his eleven grandchildren, Sam Burns; Jack and Maddy Cristall; Maya, Lucy and Abby Grasham Burns; Justin, Amelia and Casey Berot-Burns; and Ceili and Jack Burns. Also remaining to cherish his memory are his much admired big sister Eleanor Burns IBVM, his brother-in-law Jack Doody (Anne Marie), sister-in-law Patricia Goodin and his extended family. John had a talent for building friendships and will also be missed by many friends.   John was born in McAdam Junction, New Brunswick to a railroading family. His father’s work took them through many moves to different small towns in Quebec and Ontario. The Burns’ shared a deep faith in Roman Catholicism. John’s two older brothers Kenneth (d. 2006) and Edgar (d. 2010) as well as sister Eleanor, devoted their lives to Catholic religious vocation. John came to Winnipeg, Manitoba to attend university at St. Paul’s College (then downtown) where he earned a Bachelor of Arts and acquired lifelong friends. His greatest success in life was in winning the love of Gail and keeping it through all the adventures that lay ahead. John and Gail celebrated their 60th anniversary in October 2015, with the assistance of the original wedding party!   After a few years with CP Rail, where he stoked his love for railways, John enjoyed a successful 28-year career with the Hudson’s Bay Company, also a source for many enduring friendships. Learning came naturally to John. Despite having seven young children and a busy work and social life he earned his MA in History and put it to effective use engaging his children and grandchildren in many a debate. He considered retirement to be his greatest career triumph and enjoyed over 30 quality years of it, spending time with Gail and the rest of his family, enjoying the garden and the house, travelling widely, reading in his big chair, having a beer. He also attended mass daily and, yes, once again used the opportunity to build many more important friendships.   John was a modest man given his impressive accomplishments. A worldly person who never forgot an upbringing steeped in the Church and marked by the Great Depression. He carried a legacy of instinctive generosity and always found the sunny side. He understood profoundly that life is a gift and would often share his surprise and delight at how it was all turning out. John’s enthusiasm was infectious, whether for travelling to India (six times) or re-telling a corny joke (seven times). His pride in the accomplishments of his children, grandchildren and friends was genuine and always informed because of his amazing capacity to connect with those he loved and see the bigger picture.   John lived his Catholic faith his entire life. It was a source of guidance and quiet inspiration for his support for charities committed to the least advantaged and drop-in programs, preferably with a few of his children in tow. John was a towering tree, with deep roots and long branches. He reached into many lives and made them better and certainly happier for having known him.   Funeral mass will be Celebrated on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. in St. Ignatius Church, 255 Stafford Street (at Corydon Avenue), Winnipeg, Manitoba.   We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the wonderful team at St. Boniface Hospital Cardiac and Palliative Care services, especially his wonderful nurses Elisabeth Dupas and Chamiel Leviste and Dr. Tim Hiebert.   In lieu of flowers, those who wish to are invited to make a donation to Holy Names House of Peace, 211 Edmonton Street, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 1R4, Rossbrook House, 658 Ross Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, R3A 1N1 or your favourite charity.   Wojcik’s Funeral Chapels & Crematorium, Winnipeg, 2157 Portage Avenue, 204.897.4665 www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com