Tom J. Burns

Tom was born October 21, 1940 at Manitou rapids First Nation. Tom was the son of Harry and Evalina Burns. He worked both sides of the border. Tom started his working life at the age 16 and worked various jobs including the forestry service and as a lumber jack for a number of years. He moved to Thunder Bay and started working for the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre before spending some years prior to his retirement at the Belmoral Centre. Tom was predeceased by his wife of 34 years, Mary (nee McGillis); sons Archie and Roy; brother Barry Burns and sister Rachel Burns.

He is survived by his daughters Bernadette and Veronica; his granddaughter Jazmine as well as his sister Bessie (Elmer) Mainville and her family.

Tom was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish for a number of years, regularly attending Mass. Tom was particularly devoted to Our Lady of Fatima.

A visitation will take place on Wednesday January 2, 2013 from 4 p.m. at the Couchiching First Nation Multi Use Facility. Parish prayers will be offered at 7 p.m.

Funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Couchiching First Nation.

Interment will take place in the Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.

The honourary pallbearers will be Delbert Horton, Doug Horton, Elmer Mainville Sr., Joe Medicine Sr., Gaylord Horton and Ray Deafy.

The active pallbearers will be Tony Mainville, John Mainville, Elmer Mainville Jr., Vernon Horton, Derek Horton and Marcel Horton.

If friends so desire in memoriam donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Diabetes Association c/o Green Funeral Home, 600 Reid Avenue, Box 427, Fort Frances, ON, P9A 3M8.

Online condolences may be made in care of www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com.