Shirley A. Burnham, 87
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Shirley Ann Burnham, 87, a longtime Williamstown resident, died Thursday, April 27, 2010, at Sweet Brook Care Centers.
Born in St. Clair, Ill., on Feb. 21, 1923, daughter of Francis and Lola Rehg Gleason, she graduated from St. Clara Academy in Sinsinawa, Wis., and, in 1946, from Fontbonne College in St. Louis with a social service degree. She was a member of Lambda Alpha Lambda Sorority. She also had resided at 12 Perkins Drive in South Chatham.
Mrs. Burnham and her husband, the late Dr. John Forrest Burnham, opened a family dental practice in North Adams in 1947 and moved to Williamstown in 1960. She had first worked in the St. Louis area as a social worker while her husband completed dental school, then lived with her in-laws in Stoughton while he served in the Navy.
She was a longtime communicant of St. Patrick's Church, a member and past president of the Williamstown Garden Club and a longtime volunteer for the North Adams Regional Hospital Ladies' Auxiliary. She enjoyed golfing at Stamford Valley (Vt.) Golf Course. She also was an avid bridge player, tennis player and skier.
Her husband, whom she married June 17, 1946, in St. Louis died April 24, 2000.
She leaves a daughter, Nancy Roorda and her husband, Michael, of Morgan Hill, Calif.; four sons, Dr. John F. Burnham Jr. and his wife, Ann, of Dalton and Stephen F. Burnham and his wife, Kim, Thomas A. Burnham and Paul G. Burnham and his wife, Karen, all of Williamstown; nine grandchildren, Justin Roorda, Claire Burnham, Emily Burnham, MacKenzie Burnham, Brandon Burnham, Amanda Burnham, Lorna Burnham, Eli Burnham and Ross Burnham, and many friends.
She was predeceased by a brother, Dr. Jack Gleason.
FUNERAL NOTICE — A Liturgy of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, May 3, at 11 from St. Patrick's Church in Williamstown. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery.
Memorial donations are suggested for the American Cancer Society through the Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, West Chapels, 521 West Main St. North Adams, MA 01247.