Janet Lynne Burris

Jan was born in New Bedford, MA to Manuel R. Augusta and Bertha K. Mendoza Augusta, who raised her on Green Street in Fairhaven, MA. Jan always held the Town of Fairhaven close to her heart, as she did her beloved parents.

After high school, Jan attended nursing school before marrying. In her work life, she contributed creatively and diligently for almost 30 years to the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Comptroller’s Office, the University of Texas System, the University of Texas at Austin, and Austin Travis County MHMR.

Jan was a lifelong seeker of the Truth found within Western and Eastern spiritual traditions and that which transcends both, a courageous and devoted mother and grandmother, a passionate and principled advocate for social justice, and one who always tried to see the good in everyone she met.

Jan is survived by her sister Raynelle B. Galvin of Lorain, OH, her son Mark P. Burris of Canyon, TX, her son Peter L. Burris, his wife Rebecca H. Burris, and their son and her grandson Kyle P. Burris of Boulder, CO, her daughter Rosemary B. Cooper and her husband Thomas Cooper, Jr. of Austin, TX, and her son John V. Burris of Spicewood, TX. She is also survived by many wonderful cousins, nieces, and nephews and their children. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Beverly Singleton of South Dartmouth, MA.

A private celebration of Jan’s life will be held later this month. To honor her, we ask that you do something kind for someone. If you would like to make a donation in memory of her, please donate to the charity of your choice or to the Millicent Library in Fairhaven, MA, a beautiful and historic library that Jan loved.

With deep gratitude, we want to thank the staff at Brookdale Spicewood Springs and Dr. Sukanya K. Burugu, MD and her staff for their loving and compassionate care of Jan in her last two months with us. We also want to thank Dr. Allen D. Cline DAOM, L.Ac. for his many years of care, guidance, and support for Jan, which unquestionably contributed to her enduring good health and happiness. We also want Jan's very old and dear friend Shirley and her new friends at Brookdale to know that they meant more to her than can ever be expressed.

Jan remarked twice on the beautiful full moon on the night that she passed and said gently “We are here to learn and it’s all about love.” May the gift of that moment and future full moons be forever reminders of Jan’s bright and beautiful spirit.