Bernadette M. Burns

Bernadette M. Burns 92, died Tuesday, January 26, 2016. Rosary will be at 7:00 P.M., Thursday, January 28, 2016, at Downing & Lahey Mortuary East. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 A.M., Friday, January 29, 2016, at Church of the Magdalen Catholic Church. Bernadette was born in Westmoreland, Kansas in 1923 to Joseph and Agnes Schmelzle. The family later moved to Kelly, Kansas and then to Seneca, Kansas. As a young adult, she worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in Topeka. In 1956, Bernadette married Philip D. Burns. Their son, Bob, was born in 1958. The family then moved to and settled in Wichita in 1961. Bernadette was a strong believer in Catholic and higher education. She strongly supported Church of the Magdalen, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Kapaun Mt. Carmel. She was a KU Basketball fanatic! Preceded in death by her husband, Philip Burns. Survived by her son, Robert (Alice) Burns; grandchildren, Morgan (Shea) Hamid, Brooke, Jordan, Jared Burns; great-grandson, Martin Hamid. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Cooper of Tampa, Florida; as well as numerous nephews and nieces. A memorial has been established with Kapaun Mt. Carmel Catholic High School, 8506 E. Central, Wichita, Kansas 67206. Downing & Lahey Mortuary East.