Margaret Elizabeth Burns

Margaret Peggy Burns passed away from this earth on March 10, 2016. She was 91 years young. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 69 years Edward J Burns Sr., son, Stanley Paul, and brothers Leonard and George Kelz.

Peggy was born in Carbondale, Pa on November 8, 1924 to Leonard W and Margaret E Lawler Kelz. And spent her childhood years there moving her senior year of high school to Philadelphia, Pa.

Peggy had wanted to study nursing but took a job as a telephone operator with Bell Telephone to help with family expenses.

In November of 1945, she married her sweetheart Ed Burns. The original date of their wedding was November 24th but due to the war they were wed on November 19th and Peggy met her guests with only a picture of her groom.

After the war, Ed stayed in the service and Peggy happily followed him as a Navy wife to places such as Rio De Janiero, Brazil; Washington DC; Ankara, Turkey; Quonset Point, Rhode Island; and Millington, TN. The family moved to Hermitage in 1967 and there she lived until her death.

Peggy was the mother of eight children. She was a volunteer with the VA hospital for many years. She attended Holy Rosary until St Stephens was built in circa 1980, where she is still a member. She will long be remembered for her homemade cinnamon rolls, Christmas cookies and fruitcakes. She was a very bright woman who had a passion for reading and loved watching game shows. She did the morning newspaper crossword puzzle well into her 90’s. Her smile and laughter will be missed by all she touched.

Survived by her sister, Elizabeth Kelz Gibbons of Vero Beach, Florida and her children and her children, Margaret Burns Bourrie of Buford, Ga; Edward (Paulette) Burns Jr. of Semmes, Alabama; Barbara Burns (Jerry) Bundren of Tazewell, TN; James Burns of Hermitage, TN; Nancy Burns (Timm) McKnight of Troutville, VA; Robert (Shelia) Burns of Mt Juliet, TN; John Burns of Clarksville, TN; 12 grandchildren; eleven great grandchildren; 3 great grandchildren

Gathering of family & friends Sunday, March 13th 3pm until 6pm at Hermitage Funeral Home. Funeral Mass Monday March 14th at 11 am at St Stephen Catholic Community

Elizabeth Kelz Burns