Rosetta Burns

Rosetta Bulger Burns, 98, of Topeka, KS passed away on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Sweet Life at Grand Court in Overland Park, Kansas.  Rosetta will lie in state at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, Topeka, Kansas on Saturday, June 25, 2011 where the family will receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.  She was a member of Church of the Ascension Catholic Church, 9510 West 127th Street, where her visitation and wake service will be held from 2:30-4:00 p.m. on Sunday June 26th .    Mass of the Resurrection will be at 10 a.m. at the Church of the Ascension, Overland Park, Kansas on Monday June 27, 2011  with luncheon following.  Interment will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 801 SW Westchester Road in Topeka at 2:30 p.m. following Mass and the luncheon.

Rosetta was born in Cherryvale, KS to Laura Bird Bulger and James Bulger on August 28, 1912.  She received her teaching diploma from Ursuline Academy in Paola, KS in 1932 and taught many years in Montgomery County.  She married William (Bill) Joseph Burns, son of John M. and Elizabeth Murphy Burns on May 6, 1939 in Cherryvale.  Bill preceded her in death in 1988.   She is survived by three daughters and two sons, Patricia Pickert (Lawrence), and James M. Burns (Joanne) of Overland Park, KS, W. Joseph Burns (Diane) of Tulsa, OK, Mary Laura Barnett  of Topeka, KS, and Margaret Ann Garriott (Charlie) of Gainesville, GA. She was also preceded in death by a great grandson. She has 14 living grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.  Her siblings who preceded her in death were Pauline Dowd, Don Bulger and John Bulger.  Surviving siblings are Mary Holland of Virginia Beach, VA and Joe Bulger of Wichita, KS.

Besides her birthplace in Cherryvale, Rosetta lived many years in Independence, KS, and Topeka, KS, and was active in her Church and raising her busy family.  She also found time for many volunteer projects while living in Independence serving over 17 years in Scouting, Secretary of the Library Board, President of the St. Andrew’s Women’s Club, and helping at Mercy Hospital and the Red Cross during WWII.  In her 35 years in Topeka she was a member of Most Pure Heart of Mary Church serving as an officer in the Leisure Club and the Ladies of Columbus.  She worked at Jostens and Adams Business Forms (now Cardinal) as a proof reader for 10 years as well as serving as an officer in the local AARP.  She and Bill volunteered many hours of service to the V.A. Hospital and Let’s Help.  They enjoyed traveling and visiting their children and grandchildren.  Sewing, cooking and gardening were some of Rosetta’s loves.  She always had the best flowers and plants in the neighborhood, a trait probably attributed to growing up on the farm her grandfather and father homesteaded in southeast Kansas.  Rosetta was always there to help when a new grandbaby arrived or any family need arose.  After many years of research she published a family history book in 1998.  It included many pictures from the four branches of the family.  She has earned deep love and respect from all her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, with whom she had  maintained a close relationship.  She will be sorely missed. 

Donations in her name are suggested for Let’s Help and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas  66603.  Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.