Mary Catherine Burns

Mary Catherine Burns of Bowie, MD passed away peacefully on October 1, 2025. She was 94 years old. Born in Johnstown, PA on April 4, 1931, to the late Joseph and Francis Solinas Canu. Mary graduated from Johnstown Catholic High School in 1949. In June of 1955 she married her late husband Kenneth Richard Burns who predeceased her in December 2008. She began her career working in the office of Arrow furniture before leaving Johnstown PA and moving to Maryland in 1961. There, she worked as a Cafeteria Assistant at Lamont Elementary for Prince George’s County School System until her retirement in 1991. While in PG county, she joined St. Bernards Church and volunteered to work at the wedding receptions and other church functions. In 1996, Ken and Mary moved to Chestertown, MD, where they enjoyed retirement life and made many new friends. Mary volunteered at the local hospital, sometimes pushing wheelchairs bigger than she was, and also helping residents at the Seniors Center play bingo. In 2015, she moved to Evergreen, a senior community in Bowie MD, and enjoyed 10 years of group activities, word searches, Scrabble and jigsaw puzzles there. Due to her sweet and friendly nature, Mary made friends everywhere she went and was loved by all who knew her. Mary loved God and her family above all else and enjoyed spending time with them and doing volunteer work. She was a member of the VFW and American Legion Auxiliary. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her brother, Anthony Canu. She is survived by her three daughters: Theresa Meadows (Bill), Linda Singer, and Mary Joyce Burns, and a son, Richard Burns, six grandchildren: Kelly and Eric Meadows, David and Amanda Burns and Debra and Joseph Singer; and three great-grandchildren: Josh, Kara and Matteo. A visitation will be held Monday October 6, 2025 from 5pm to 7pm at Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home in Chestertown, MD. A Mass will be held Tuesday October 7, 2025 at 11:00AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Chestertown, MD. Burial will follow at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Rock Hall, MD. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Montgomery and Prince George’s Hospice at 700 Kind Blvd. Ste. 400, Rockville, MD 20580.

Mary Catherine Burns

April 4, 1931 - October 1, 2025