Bonita "Bonnie" M. Burns

Bonita Mae “Bonnie” Burns

August 26, 1935 – November 19, 2019

Bonnie M. Burns, age 84, passed peacefully into the arms of our loving Lord Jesus Christ on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 2:15 p.m. after a gradual decline in health caused by kidney failure. Bonnie will be reunited with her loving husband Vincent Robert “Bob” Burns who passed away five years ago. They had been married 60 years on earth and will now celebrate eternity together in heaven. Bonnie passed away at the Porter Hospice with her Colorado family and friends by her side. Her Holy Rosary will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 7 p.m. and Funeral Mass on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at 10 a.m. both at All Souls Catholic Church located at 4950 S. Logan Street, Englewood, CO 80113. Private family services will be held at Fort Logan National Cemetery where Bonnie and Bob will be entombed together forever. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Bonnie Burns to the Carmelite Monastery 6138 S. Gallup Street, Littleton, Colorado 80120. The sisters there have lovingly prayed for our family over the years in good times and bad. Bonnie was very fond of the Carmelite sisters who were close to her home and their chapel a place of prayer and meditation.

Bonnie will be missed by her surviving children, Vince Burns, Noreen Burns-Brubeck, Betty (Charles) Lewis, Sean Burns, LaVon (Dane) Birney; grandchildren, Brendan (Beth) Burns, Benjamin (Jackie) Brubeck, Bridget Burns, Caitlin (John) Zigler, Lauren Martin, Colin Lewis and great grandchildren Lucas and Grae Burns and Hannah and Lily Brubeck. Bonnie is survived by her sister Jody (Ron) Jagersky and preceded in death by her mother, Loretta (Doyle) Schilz and John Schilz and her brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Joann Anderson. She has numerous cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends too numerous to mention.

Bonnie was born in 1935 and lived for a time in her early life with her mother and brother in Leadville, Colorado with her grandparents and nine uncles (the Doyle family). Later when their mother married John Schilz, they moved to Denver where they lived across the street from Annunciation Catholic Church. Living that close to the church, Bonnie shared many stories over the years about her connections to the priests and nuns who helped shape her early years. She and her brother, Donald were the responsible older siblings to their young sister, Jody, who they loved and cared for throughout the years while their parents worked to provide for them under difficult circumstances. Bonnie and Donnie were regulars at the church and were always on hand to help people whose cars were stuck in the parking lot after big snowstorms.

Bonnie worked hard as a teenager and was always on hand to help her mother. In the summer of her 19th year, she was introduced on a blind date to a well-known local scholar and athlete named Bob Burns. After their first date, upon returning to her home, she woke her mother, exclaiming that she just met the man she was going to marry! Well it was just five months later, on November 14, 1954, that the two were married and began their loving life together. Together Bob and Bonnie had five children; Vince, Noreen, Betty, Sean and LaVon.

Bonnie and Bob loved their times together and with their children. But with a large family as they had, regular trips alone were a priority. They were members of a travel club (Ports of Call) which provided them with many great travel adventures.

In addition to traveling, Bonnie loved her home and making it a special place for her family. She was constantly nesting – and redecorating to keep things interesting. She was a wonderful cook, providing family dinners each night when Bob would return home from his job with the Denver Post. Together they raised five busy kids through all of their events and sports and traditions. Their family were members of the Catholic Church and were active parishioners at different churches throughout the years. Holidays were important to Bonnie and she worked hard to be sure her family had fun and memorable traditions throughout each year.

Outside of her family, Bonnie had a second family which were the numerous friends she made over the years. She was involved in many clubs and community groups and loved socializing with her friends and being part of their lives. She was always working on a project to help those less fortunate. Favorite groups were the two alter and rosary society circles she participated in at All Souls Catholic Church, the Thursday sewing group hosted by her best friend, the regular game groups she so enjoyed as well as the Red Hat Society and Littleton Newcomers.

Entertaining at her home and gardening were two other favorites enjoyed by Bonnie and her family. In addition to all of her responsibilities as a mother, Bonnie always worked part-time to help with expenses. Her favorite jobs over the years were in the classified advertising department of the Rocky Mountain News and Littleton Independent newspapers.

Bonnie had a very strong faith and close devotion to our Blessed Mother, Mary and especially, her savior Jesus Christ. Bonnie will be greatly missed by her family who are comforted in knowing that she will be carefully watched over by our Lord and Savior until they meet again in heaven.