BURTON GILLIS
Jun 14, 1961 – Aug 31, 2025
Burton Gillis passed away peacefully in Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital on Aug 31, 2025 with family at his side. Burton was born in Couchenour, Ontario. In 1966 his parents returned to Inverness County and settled in Judique, a community with many close family and friends. Burton graduated from Judique-Creignish Consolidated in 1979 and went on to further education at NSCC and at NAIT / Calgary to further his knowledge as an Instrument Technician and created his own company to provide expertise in various work locations including Hibernia, Calgary, Fort Hills, Louisiana, and early days at Pickering. He enjoyed learning the food culture of new places and was an excellent cook who enjoyed getting together for family meals.
He also enjoyed horse racing and discovered the excitement of harness racing that comes from owning a horse in the race. He enjoyed time on the water lobster fishing with his father and in later years, moved home to help care for his mother in her final years.
Burton is survived by spouse Sylvia Budiashi and step-son Alex; siblings Virginia MacIsaac (A.J.), Kenneth Gillis Jr. (Mary), Brenda MacDonald, Clayton Gillis (Karen Lee); niece and nephews Kent MacIsaac (Claudia), Chris MacIsaac (Joanna); Amy MacDonald, and Nolan MacDonald; also by great-niece Brooklyn MacIsaac and great-nephew Alex A. MacIsaac; aunts Margaret Beaton, Sadie MacDonald; uncles John Duncan MacDonald, Clair (Ronalda) MacDonald; and Archie MacDonald, former brother-in-law.
He was predeceased by his parents Louise (MacDonald) Gillis and Kenneth Gillis Sr; sibling Loretta Gillis; paternal grandparents Margaret (MacDonald / Graham) and Archie D. Gillis; maternal grandparents Mary Ann (Gillis) and Johnny MacDonald; aunts Kay (John Donald) MacDonald, Annie Laurie (Tony) Zenns, Elizabeth (Mario) DiFazio, Marie MacDonald, Isobel (MacLellan) MacDonald; uncles Donald (Peggy) Gillis, Martin (Eileen) Gillis, Stanley (Loretta) Gillis, Alex Graham and Winnifred Beaton.
A Funeral Mass with Rev. Fr. MacMillan officiating will take place Wed, Sep 10. 2025 at 11 am at St. Andrew’s Parish Church, Judique, N.S. with burial to follow in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be held Tue, Sep 9, between 2 pm-4 pm and 6 pm – 8 pm at the Judique & District Fire Hall coordinated by the Inverness Funeral Home. Family flowers only, please. Donations may be made to the Judique & District Volunteer Fire Dept and the St. Andrew’s Parish Cemetery Fund.
Online condolences may be made to: www.invernessfuneralhome.com
