Virginia Ann Burns

Virginia A. (Ginny) Burns (nee Brook) passed away peacefully at her home in Glen Allen, VA, on 18 June 2021, in the care of her six children. Ginny was born on 28 May 1936 in Rochester, NY, to Thomas E. and Cecilia K. Brook. Ginny was the second of Tom and Ceil’s four children; she graduated from Sacred Heart Academy in Rochester in 1954. Following graduation, she went to work at New York Life Insurance Company.

Ginny married Lt. J.G. John A. (Zeke) Burns, (USN), in 1958 and together they had many adventures traversing America. They were stationed in Albuquerque, NM; Patuxent River, MD; Orlando, FL, Norfolk, VA.; Mayport, FL.; and NAS Oceana in Virginia Beach, VA. Along the way Ginny and Zeke had six children: John M. (Mary Ann) of Linden, VA; Michael T. (Maura) of Alexandria, VA; Margaret C. Reilly (Thomas) of Sayville, NY; Susan M. Campbell (Kenneth), of Richmond, VA; Anne V. Steinbrook (Michael) of Mechanicsburg, PA; and Thomas F. (Rachael) of Crownsville, MD. In addition to her six children, Ginny is also survived by her eight grandchildren, Meaghan B. Reilly, Thomas M. Reilly, Francis W. Reilly; Theron M. Steinbrook, Ella K. Steinbrook, Patrick R. Steinbrook; and Luke E. Campbell and Adam B. Campbell. Ginny is also survived by her brother Thomas W. Brook of Ft. Collins, CO, and her sister Karen L. McKeveny of Atlanta, GA. Ginny is preceded in death by her parents Thomas E. Brook and Cecilia K. Brook; her husband of 49 years, Capt. John A. Burns (USN, Ret), infant son Patrick J. Burns; and her sister Joan M. Denomme.

Given Zeke’s 21-year-active-duty Navy career, Ginny served as the linchpin for everything in the busy Burns household, from running the kitchen, planning the yardwork, helping with homework, chauffeuring the children all over town for sports and school events. You name it, Ginny selflessly and seemingly effortlessly took care of it all. There was no job too great or too small for her to help with—and she handled each and every detail with the love and care that she showed us throughout our lives.

In the kitchen, Ginny approached every meal as an event, mastering new recipes and creating her own. Her chocolate-chip cookies and strawberry pie were eagerly enjoyed by family and friends alike, and dinner time at the Burns’s house was usually a sit-down, candlelit meal that often lasted well into the evening to ensure that all were sharing in the scratch-made dishes. Ginny loved reading, gardening, working crossword puzzles, and spending time with her beloved family. And when she was feeling well, Ginny enjoyed a refreshing gin and tonic now and then during the longstanding family cocktail hour—a tradition passed down from her father that she wholeheartedly adopted.

Ginny was always up for an adventure. In 1958, Ginny and Zeke celebrated their honeymoon with a stop through the Grand Canyon. It was a lifelong wish to return, and in 2015, Ginny along with her children and grandchildren celebrated her 80th birthday there against that magnificent landscape.

All the while, Ginny modeled the importance of strong faith in God, demonstrated the value of hard work and a thrifty lifestyle, the importance of being kind and generous, and how to make darn near everything fun and interesting. Ginny’s mission was serving others, but her superpower was making it all look so effortless. In a nutshell, she lived her life through a couple of sayings that she was often heard repeating to us, and those were: “you don’t have to look very far to see how good you have it” and “tomorrow is another day!” She lived her entire life with amazing grace, remarkable courage, a sense of adventure, and warm good humor, right up to the end. Ginny, congratulations on running the good race, reaching the finishing line, and for making us the people we are today. Rest in peace Mom, we love you.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in honor of Virginia A Burns to the following charities:

https://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

https://www.cancer.org/

https://saint-mikes.org/