Eileen Ann Burnett

Eileen Ann Burnett, nee Cragwell, passed away January 12, 2021, of Covid 19 complications. She was born in Roxbury, MA, June 8, 1930. The sixth of 9 children born to Herbert A. Cragwell and Lillian A. Browne.

She graduated from Memorial High School and Lesley College. After graduating high school, she married Paul E. Johnson and they had 3 daughters, Paula Eileen, Denise Marie, and Lysa Michelle. Eileen outlived her daughter Lysa. Later in life she married Ernest L. Burnett. They enjoyed a life of travel.

One of her first jobs was at R.H. White’s as a salesperson. She also welded wings on planes at a company located in Egleston Square. She worked at Blairs Foodland and Shawmut Bank. But her true love was educating children in Boston Public School System. Then in 1969, Eileen opened her own Day Care. Busy Bee Day Care accommodated 30 children from 3-6 years of age. She, as Director, had a staff of 5 teachers, a cook and driver. Mayor Menino recognized and awarded Busy Bee as the top Day Care in Boston for several years.

Her interest includes crafts, sewing, doll making, flower arrangements, horses and lots of shopping. Back in her day a good yard sale did not get passed by.

Eileen outlived her siblings, Stanley Browne and Gwendolyn Watty of St. Kitts, Wilmoth Joseph Craigwell, Vivian Lorraine Cragwell Hill, Herbert Arthur Craigwell Jr., and Harold Wright Craigwell of Massachusetts. She predeceased her siblings Yvonne Marie Cragwell Dedrick of Falmouth and Elaine Cecile Cragwell Rice of Tucson, Arizona. She leaves her daughters Paula Eileen Johnson, Denise Marie Johnson, daughter–in-law Seyana Mawusi of Falmouth, MA. Step-children Greta Price of Virginia, Gloria Harrison of New Jersey, and Ernest N. Burnett of Pennsylvania, and grandson Jared I. Johnson of Boston, MA.

She leaves a multitude of family and friends behind. Cousins, nieces and nephews from Massachusetts, St. Kitts, Canada, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Washington, Texas, California, Pennsylvania and New York will miss her wisdom and laughter.

Family and Friends are invited to attend a funeral service at 11:30 AM on January 28, 2021 at Nickerson Bourne Funeral Home located at 40 MacArthur Blvd., Bourne, MA. Burial will follow at the Massachusetts National Cemetery at 12:45 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Eileen’s name to St. Jude’s.