Marcia Ann Burns

great grandmother, passed away with family by her side.

Marcia was born in South Bend, Indiana, on her doting father’s birthday, September 7, 1936, to the late

George Benedict and Harriet Lucille Frankowski Dahlke. She was the granddaughter of Frank and Amelia

Block Dahlke of South Bend and Manistee, Michigan, and George and Marcianna Barbara Eichstaedt

Frankowski, also of South Bend. She was named after and for her similarly strong maternal

grandmother, great grandmother, and great-great grandmother, with her name now spanning seven

generations to her daughter and granddaughter. She was the last surviving grandchild of George (born

1852) and Marcianna Frankowski (born 1861) who immigrated to South Bend in 1883 from Osno,

Poland.

She loved South Bend and grew up with aunts, uncles, and dear cousins in the area. Her Catholic faith

was an important part of her upbringing and life. She grew up during World War II. Those turbulent

frugal times were formative for her life and stayed with her always. She transferred from Holy Cross

Catholic school in 8th grade, to South Bend Central High School for 9th grade. She rose in academics to

become Valedictorian of the Class of 1954 and earned the highest rank in Home Economics. Her

teachers supported and encouraged her to further her education at Purdue University.

While at Purdue University, she met the love of her life, Robert Leo Burns. Their meeting was an

arranged blind date by the university priest. For their first meeting they attended the Mardi Gras dance

hosted by the Purdue Newman Club on February 18, 1955. Marcia was a brilliant student and helped

Robert, and herself to earn their degrees from Purdue. Their love blossomed during their time at

Purdue, and they were married 3 years later at Holy Cross Catholic Church in South Bend on February

15, 1958. Their wedding day was filled with love… And snow. Marcia and her maid of honor shoveled the

snow from the church steps the morning of her wedding before walking to the market to buy flowers.

Love was all they needed. A beautiful 65-year marriage transpired, where just as written in Corinthians,

Marcia showed that love is patient and kind, always. She supported Robert to an elevated and successful

Logistics career with the U.S. government spanning over 30 years in Dayton, Ohio, and Warner Robins,

Georgia.

Family was always an important part of Marcia’s life. She was a loving mother. Her children and

grandchildren were always a priority and focus. Marcia beamed with pride when sharing about the

many accomplishments of her husband, children, and grandchildren. She was a picture of literal

strength. Whether carrying glass bottled cokes across a school as “room mom,” running a carpool,

helping with schoolwork, taking care of grandchildren during a decade of summers, or baking thousands

of bowls of secret recipe ziti for her special grandson, she never stopped serving her family and others.

She had a 12” square frying pan that she selected with green stamps, and with it she prepared

thousands of meals for her family. Almost like Jesus with the loaves and fishes, the meals she prepared

from that frying pan across decades were endlessly abundant and lovingly made. Marcia never

stopped, no matter how hard the path forward, or how tired she was.

Community and kindness were an innate part of Marica’s life. She most notably recalled the fulfillment

she had from her years of serving homebound elderly with Meals on Wheels. Not just providing a warm

meal and companionship but making phone calls and advocating to assist in getting benefits they

needed.

Marcia was a remarkable quilter and seamstress. She made many award-winning quilts for all her family,

and clothed her growing family with beautiful, lovingly crafted garments from the 1960s to the 1980s.

Spring was her favorite season. She loved flowers in bloom. She loved everything in the shape of hearts,

all through the year. She loved chocolate. Everything that she did, she put all her heart into it.

Those who knew and loved Marcia will always be in awe of the strength, energy, intelligence,

dedication, faithfulness, and the love she gave in every day of her life on earth. She leaves a legacy that

is reflective of selfless care and love for others. Then on the glorious day celebrating the birth of our

Lord and Savior, and whom through which life everlasting comes, God brought his faithful servant home.

Left to cherish Marcia’s memory, she is survived by: her devoted husband of 65 years, Robert Leo Burns,

Kennesaw; daughter Monica (Jerry) Brady of Woodstock, Georgia; daughter Lori (Peter) Thomas of

Dawsonville, Georgia; son Robert (Stacy) Burns of Bradenton, Florida; daughter Marcee Ann (Brendan)

McCarthy of Kennesaw, Georgia; grandchildren Philip Brady, Kimberly Schager, Robby Vandegrift, Joe

Vandegrift, David Vandegrift, Eli Burns, Brendan McCarthy, Jr., Amelia Marcianna McCarthy, and 6 great

grandchildren. She is pre-deceased by her daughter Mary Elizabeth Burns, son Leonard Louis Burns,

granddaughter Erin Miranda Brady, and her sister Sandra Mae Dahlke.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for random acts of service and kindness to others in need. Kindness,

gentleness, and compassion to others was a hallmark of Marcia’s generation and what she most

enjoyed.

Arrangements will be handled by Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home. Private family services will be held. Burial services will be at Magnolia Park Cemetery in Warner Robins, Georgia at a later date.