Louise Elizabeth (Joseph) Burns, 90, of Wethersfield, passed away on Nov. 7, 2009 at Hartford Hospital.  She was pre-deceased by her husband of 59 years, George R. Burns, and also her parents, Antanas Jurdeipis and Magdalene (Eukinis) Jurdeipis, both of Kaunas, Lithuania. 

Louise' birth name in Lithuanian was Ludwiga which was anglicized to Louise in childhood.  Louise moved to Hartford from New Jersey in 1927 as a child and graduated from Hartford High school in 1936, at which she earned membership to the National Honor Society.

She was employed at the Dime Savings Bank before her marriage in 1946.  Later she was appointed to be the first woman town Selectman in Wethersfield (1955).  She was most definitely a feminist even back then.  Louise and her husband spent 25 years residing in Old Saybrook and Florida from 1975 to 2003, but then returned to their beloved Wethersfield six years ago.

An avid gardener, Louise' home on Brimfield Road was the envy of the neighborhood.  Louise received an Associate Arts degree from Middlesex C.C. in the 1980's.  Her major field there was the study of literature, poetry and opera.

Louise leaves a son Richard G. Burns, of Old Lyme; a daughter, Barbara Burns, and a son-in-law, Edward Essock both of Louisville, Ky.  And she leaves the loves of her life, two granddaughters, both presently working on advanced degrees in science, Tara and Emma Essock Burns also both of Louisville, Ky.  Also, she leaves two sisters and a brother, Frances Gratis of Newington, Ann Roy of South Windsor and Lawrence Joseph of Hartford.  Louise was pre-deceased by five siblings, Helen Norige of South Windsor, Lucy Stebbins of Hartford and Vincent, Frank, and Anthony Jr.also from Hartford.  Louise also leaves many nieces and nephews: Darlene Giraitis of New York City, Lee Roy Stebbins of Vienna Va., Mary Ann Stebbins of Newington; Dr. Kevin Norige of South Windsor, Timothy Norige of Wethersfield, Robert Norige of Middletown, Nancy (Norige) Schultz of Durham; Linda Roy of West New York, N.J.; Tony Roy of Bolton; Ann Roy and Karen Roy both of S. Windsor, and Mary (Roy) Comstock of East Granby.  A nephew, Kenley Giraitis and a niece, Judith Stebbins, were also pre-deceased. 

A Mass of Christian Burial was held at Corpus Christi Church, 601 Silas Deane Highway, Wethersfield. Internment will be at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery (Section H), 1 Cottage Grove Rd., Bloomfield, CT.

The Burns family would like to add a note of great appreciation to the medical and nursing staff in the Cardiac and ICU units at Hartford Hospital.  The caring and concern they showed Louise in her final days was outstanding and immensely appreciated.

For online expressions of sympathy or further information, visit www.farleysullivan.com