John J. Burnett

He was born in Hartford, the son of Catherine (McMahon) and William Burnett. He was predeceased by his first wife, Maureen (Donahue) Burnett, his brothers Donald Burnett and Fr. George Burnett, and grandson Steven Fortier.

He attended St. Joseph's Parochial School in Hartford and graduated from Abbey Prep in Simsbury. He worked in the plumbing trade and became the Plumbing and Heating Inspector for the town of Wethersfield.

At the urging of his brother Don, he attended St. Michael's College in Winooski, VT, graduated cum laude in 1955 and was elected by the Society into Delta Epsilon Sigma, a Catholic honorary scholastic fraternity.

After college John joined the US Army and served in Germany during the Hungarian Crisis. He received his honorable discharge in 1957 and joined The Hartford Courant where he enjoyed a 35 year career in sales. He was the National Ad Manager prior to becoming the Research and Sales Training Manager, the position he held until his retirement in 1992. He introduced zoning which enabled advertisers to market more efficiently.

John was a past president of the Hartford Area Business Economist and remained active in the organization. He was a regional VP of The Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford and brought hundreds of men on retreat from Our Lady of Peace, his parish in East Hartford as well as from St. Mary Church of the Visitation in Clinton. He taught CCD for many years both in East Hartford and Clinton. He was an active member of St. Mary Church of the Visitation, a Eucharistic Minister, altar server, Minister to the Sick, member of the Stewardship Committee and the committee that built the parish center. He was also a Eucharistic Minister at Connecticut Hospice in Branford since 1998. With his wife Mary, he did Prison Ministry at YCI. John was also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

In addition to his wife Mary Lee Burnett, John is survived by his six children who were raised by their loving mother Maureen in East Hartford. They are Eileen Normandin of Bolton, William (and Karen) of Avon, Nancy Baron of St. Petersburg, James (and Pam) of Hebron, Mary Ann Vanderjagt (and Roy) of So. Windsor and Kevin (and Jennifer) of Seminole, FL. He leaves 15 grandchildren: Shawna Wainwright, Jim Fortier, Sterling and Mariah Burnett, Gene, Jack and Maureen Baron, Dylan Lockwood, Morgan Hilliard, Zachary and James Burnett, Blake Vanderjagt, Campbell and Payton Burnett. He leaves three great grandchildren, Ciaran, Raiyn and Lana of Marlborough.

He will be remembered as a persistent man who had unconditional love and great faith who never gave up. He touched many lives.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 18th from 4-8pm at Swan Funeral Home, 80 E. Main St., Clinton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, December 19th at 11am in St. Mary Church of the Visitation, 54 Grove St., Clinton. Lunch will follow immediately at the Visitation Hall at St. Mary's. Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Connecticut Hospice, St. Mary Church of the Visitation, Clinton, or to The Holy Family Monastery, W. Hartford.