Obituary for Cathy Burns
BURNS, Catherine Ann - We lost an amazing woman with the passing of Cathy Burns on Friday, June 18 at St. Joseph’s Hospice in London in her 58th year.
She will be sadly missed by her best friend Rob Corp who loved her dearly. Cherished sister to Rita (Bud) Henry, Pat (Denise) Burns, Mary (Rick) Glaab, Howard (Wendy) Burns and sister-in-law Shannon Burns. She will be missed by her aunt, uncle and many nieces, nephews, friends and extended family. Cathy is predeceased by her parents Howard and Elizabeth Burns and her siblings Colleen Jackson, Bob Burns and Stephen Burns.
With a quick wit and an easy smile, Cathy was known for her great sense of humour and strength in the face of adversity. The youngest of eight siblings, she learned to fend for herself and make some noise if necessary, a skillset that served her well in adulthood, especially during her 11-year battle with cancer. As she once remarked, “Never did I realize the journey I would endure.” Still, she constantly beat the medical odds. She was a battler. Never letting the illness define her, Cathy lived life, laughed out loud, enjoyed visits, and found comfort in the many positives around her, including her rescue dog Phoebe. A teaching assistant for many years, Cathy loved working with kids, including children with disabilities and special needs, a gift that surfaced in her 20s and allowed her to forge bonds with many families over the years. Despite her own struggles, she always found a way to reach out to nieces and nephews to offer support, fearless and kind to the end.
A private family interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Woodstock following cremation. As expressions of sympathy donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, 485 Windermere Rd., London, ON N6A 5M2.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the SMITH-LeROY FUNERAL HOME, 69 Wellington St. North, Woodstock, ON (519-537-3611). Personal condolences may be posted at www.smithleroy.com
She will be sadly missed by her best friend Rob Corp who loved her dearly. Cherished sister to Rita (Bud) Henry, Pat (Denise) Burns, Mary (Rick) Glaab, Howard (Wendy) Burns and sister-in-law Shannon Burns. She will be missed by her aunt, uncle and many nieces, nephews, friends and extended family. Cathy is predeceased by her parents Howard and Elizabeth Burns and her siblings Colleen Jackson, Bob Burns and Stephen Burns.
With a quick wit and an easy smile, Cathy was known for her great sense of humour and strength in the face of adversity. The youngest of eight siblings, she learned to fend for herself and make some noise if necessary, a skillset that served her well in adulthood, especially during her 11-year battle with cancer. As she once remarked, “Never did I realize the journey I would endure.” Still, she constantly beat the medical odds. She was a battler. Never letting the illness define her, Cathy lived life, laughed out loud, enjoyed visits, and found comfort in the many positives around her, including her rescue dog Phoebe. A teaching assistant for many years, Cathy loved working with kids, including children with disabilities and special needs, a gift that surfaced in her 20s and allowed her to forge bonds with many families over the years. Despite her own struggles, she always found a way to reach out to nieces and nephews to offer support, fearless and kind to the end.
A private family interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Woodstock following cremation. As expressions of sympathy donations may be made to St. Joseph’s Hospice of London, 485 Windermere Rd., London, ON N6A 5M2.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the SMITH-LeROY FUNERAL HOME, 69 Wellington St. North, Woodstock, ON (519-537-3611). Personal condolences may be posted at www.smithleroy.com