Dorothy Alberta Burns

Roller skating in the streets of Cinci as a young girl and graduating to a love of baseball, she was a great student and entered the world with solid optimism and faith. After high school, she was selected to study chemical engineering at the University of Cincinnati, an honor uncommon for women at that time, a recognition of her ambition and brilliance. During her college education, she met the love of her life, Joseph Burns, at a Newman Club picnic in Cincinnati. Joe was from Estherville Iowa, and she was a city girl. They quickly fell in love and, in 1947, Joe and Dotti were married. Dottie and Joe were lucky to have the honor of sharing 55 beautiful years of their devoted lives together. They raised their four children, Kathy, Mary, Dan and Sally, in Omaha, St. Louis, St. Paul and Chicago.

From a young age, Dotti held a deep fascination with the sciences, specifically chemistry. Dottie spent her career working in the food science and metallurgy fields. Throughout her lifetime, she encouraged others, including her children, to discovery and create in the scientific field.

Dottie was born on March 16th, 1925, one day before St. Patrick’s Day. She was always excited to add green to everything including her son Dan’s hair on the holiday. She never stopped playing with others - pulling gentle pranks for a smile. She took great pride in baking her favorite recipe, the perfect German Chocolate cake. She had a flair for style, color and fun and always added a little sparkle and joy to a room full of the people she loved.

Before his passing in 2002, Dottie and Joe retired and lived in warm and sunny Arizona. After his passing, Dottie moved to Michigan to be with her daughters, Sally and Mary. Dottie and Mary shared a home in a beautiful and quiet neighborhood in Lansing. Mary and Sally’s selfless and devoted love for Dottie, allowed her to flourish in her new home, Lansing, Michigan. In Lansing, she enjoyed being surrounded by people who loved and supported her. Sally, Mary, and Dottie often enjoyed events together like the Orchid Show, and going to beautiful gardens, greenhouses and nurseries to get through the cold Michigan winters. Dottie enjoyed many hobbies including bowling, sewing, crossword puzzles, pinochle, music, and playing the organ to accompany Joe’s singing.

We know that our lives are better because of her and that her spirit infuses us with energy and light. We trust that she is in a better place where we will meet her again. She is now spending time with Joe, her folks, close friends and relatives as they sing around the piano surrounded by warmth and light. Like a star that sparkles, she expressed her love openly and generously for everyone she met. Thank you, friends and relatives who gave support. Thanks to Pat O’Handley Robinson who offered especially sensitive spiritual support and friendship in these later years enhancing her strong and optimistic faith.

Preceded in death by Joe, her mother Eleanor Hirn McGowan, father Louis C McGowan and brother Charles, and many cherished others.

Surviving are children Dan (Kathy) Burns, Sally Burns (Karen, deceased), Mary Burns and Kathy Burns (Peter), grandchildren Jesy (Tom) Keenan and John Cunningham, and great grandchild Bernadette. Sisters in love and connection Sr. Elizabeth Mary Burns, Anne McGowan (John), Mary Berg (Charles) and Margaret Lenz (Bill), and brother Jim Burns (Flo). Also close in our hearts are cousins, nieces and nephews Eileen, Mike, Pat, Tom, Carol, Diane, JoAnn, Marsha, Theresa, Chuck, Joe, Bobby, Patti, Janice, Susie, Brian, Joe, Diane, Paula, Steve, Michael, Dan, Doug, Chris, and others who fortified Dottie throughout her life by sharing theirs. She enjoyed friends like Paloma, Priscilla, Marie, Anna, and Jane.

We are grateful to the Stoneleigh Hospice House for their gentle care in her last days.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Greater Lansing Food Bank, Eaton County Humane Society or St. Johns Food Cupboard. A funeral Mass will be held at St. John Student Parish in East Lansing at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 3. Lunch and a continued celebration of Dottie’s life will follow, at the Red Cedar Friends Meeting House in Lansing at 12:30 pm. We hope to see you there as we continue our journey of caring for one another.