Mary Lou (Collins) Burns

Mary Lou Burns passed away peacefully on June 2, 2026, at the age of 94.
She was born in Sayre PA, the only child of George and Mary Collins. Her mother operated the first
pharmacy at the Robert Packer Hospital. Her father was a Linotype Operator for the Evening Times.
Sadly, her father died when she was eleven.

She grew up in Athens and worked in her mother’s pharmacy on Main Street, Collins Drug Store, later
known as the Athens Pharmacy.

She married her childhood sweetheart Thomas Burns after graduating from Athens High School. He
passed away in 2021 at the age of 89.

They are survived by six children: Peggy, Paul, Pat Guinane (Tom),
Terri, Lizzie (Mark), Tom (Stacey); seven beautiful grandchildren: Samantha (Ray), Patrick (Jenna), Molly
(Luke), Danny (Caity), Kelly (Kevin), Ryan, and Meagan; and six adorable great-grandchildren. She called
them ‘The Greats.’

In the early years of their marriage Mary Lou was busy at home, but she had an enduring interest in
fashion and interior design. As the children got older and Tom's kitchen installation business grew, Mary
Lou was instrumental in getting the business established as a cabinet dealer. She earned a degree and
became an accredited member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). She specialized in
kitchen design, partnering with Tom in successful kitchen businesses in Waverly, Ithaca, and Florida.
She never lost her interest in fashion and dressed to the nines. We all admired how she could put
together an outfit and rock it.

She made friends easily and nurtured them.
She was intrepid—she waterskied on Cayuga Lake with only her "life belt" never having learned to
swim. Years later we teased her about her “life belt” as she doggy paddled around the pool in Florida.
In Florida, she taught yoga classes almost to her 80’s, volunteered at hospice and served as an election
supervisor in Volusia County.

Health concerns eventually brought Tom and Mary Lou back to their family roots in the Valley. After
losing her husband of 71 years, Mary Lou moved to Elderwood, first to the assisted living facility and
then last year into the skilled nursing facility. The family is deeply grateful to the staff at Elderwood for
the kindness and care she received and for all the help they gave the family in making the transition at
each stage.

A graveside service will be held on July 22,2026 at St. James Cemetery in Waverly, NY at 11AM with Father Daniel Toomey of the Church of The Epiphany officiating.

The family is also grateful to Denny Thomas for his help and guidance. Arrangements have been
entrusted to Thomas Cremation and Funeral Service, 1297 Elmira St. Sayre, Pa. Those wishing to leave a
sympathy message may do so at https://www.thomascremationfuneralservice.

In lieu of flowers,
donations can be made to the Waverly Public Library.

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