Obituary of Joan Joyce Burns
Age 88 of Clio, passed away on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at Taylor Lodge Assisted Living in Clio. A Mass of Christian burial will take place on Friday, June 7, 2024, at SS Charles & Helena Catholic Church. Fr. Kenneth Coughlin to officiate, with burial to follow at West Vienna Township Cemetery. Joan’s family will be present to receive friends from 11:00am until 8:00pm, Thursday, June 6, 2024, at Martin Funeral, Cremation & Tribute Services. On Thursday evening, at 7:00pm, family, friends, and parish will gather to pray the Rosary. On Friday morning, Joan will be taken to church to lie in state from 10:00am until the time of service at 11:00am. Expressions of sympathy may be placed on Joan’s tribute wall at martinfuneralhome.com.
Joan was born in Alpena, Michigan, on November 9, 1935, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph and Mabel (Johnson) Bleau. Joan met the love of her life, Ernest Burns, and they were united in marriage on February 19, 1955. Their union was blessed with seven wonderful children. Sadly, he preceded her in death on December 17, 2001. After raising her children, Joan made the decision to go back to school where she proudly earned her High School diploma in 1990, graduating Valedictorian of her class. Joan was a member of SS Charles & Helena Catholic Church for many years. She enjoyed working and held many different jobs. Joan started out working in a bakery. She then went on to work as a receptionist for Burns Heating and Cooling for over 20 years. She also opened a hair salon in her home where she took care of hundreds of “friends” over the years. Joan was a very social person and loved being with people and they loved being with her. She was an avid writer of poetry and belonged to the poetry club. As the Director of the Academy, Joan was instrumental in setting up the Michigan branch of the National Academy for Child Development to serve children with disabilities. Joan loved to travel with her sisters all over Michigan, taking trips to the casino or just going for a drive. In her free time, Joan enjoyed garage sales, BINGO, dice games, and Scrabble. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and overall friend. She will be dearly missed.
Left to cherish Joan’s memory are her children: Tim and wife, Nancy Burns, Susan and husband, Ibra Parker, Ken and wife, Gayle Burns, David and wife, Andrea Burns, Mary Allen, Ernest Burns, II; grandchildren: Dan, Chris, Melissa, Ann and husband, Kenny, Sarah and husband, Alex, Rebecca and husband, Cletis, Emily and husband, Matthew, Ken and wife, Meagan, Nick, Hannah and wife, Georgia, Erika; 23 great-grandchildren; siblings: Willieoma Roznowski, Margaret and husband, Al Kamyszek; Katherine Houghton, Barbara Agius, Linda and husband, Robert Metz; sisters-in-law: Carol and Terry LaCrosse, Evelyn Alexander; several nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
Joan was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ernest Burns; son, Alan Burns; grandson, Michael Burns; and seven siblings.