Joann Cecelia Burne

JoAnn Burne, 85, of Clarks Summit, died Wednesday at Green Ridge Health Care Center, Scranton. She was the widow of the late Bartholomew Burne who died in 1963.
Born May 13, 1927 in Scranton Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of Josephine and Giovanni Pellegrini.

She graduated from Scranton Technical High School in 1945 and was the belle of her class.
After graduation, she worked at the Glen Alden Coal Company as a bookkeeper until she was married in 1949. Her husband Bart, was the love of her life. She met him at a dance where he walked up to her and said "You look just like my sister Betty". When he walked her home, he told her mother that he knew he was going to marry her. She was swept off of her feet and married him 6 months later. They had the fairy tale wedding that every girl dreams of. They resided in the hill section of Scranton before moving to Miami Beach Florida where they lived for 8 years. She returned to Scranton in 1959, when her husband was tragically struck by a car and brought to the Veterans Hospital in Wilkes Barre, where he laid in a coma until his death in 1963. JoAnn was expecting her last child at the time of the accident. She was a brave and courageous woman who did not miss even one day of visiting Bart in those four and a half years of his hospital stay. She devoted her entire life to her three children. She always spoke of the amazing support she had from her family and close friends. Her mother moved in with her to help care for her children and her wonderful in-laws bought her a house a few doors away from them. Her three sisters were also an important part of the support team.

Being involved in her children's lives was her first priority. When JoAnn's children were in grade school she was known as "The Stamp Lady" at Longfellow School, a title she held for many years that involved managing the S&H Green stamp program that most grade schools had in the 1960's. She also volunteered at St. Paul's School lunch room for her granddaughters. She was a member of the St. Joseph's Auxiliary, the Theresians of Scranton, a member of a weekly neighborhood rosary group, a volunteer at St. Francis Kitchen, and also active in the ARC.

JoAnn was known for her inner and outer beauty, but her genuine kindness toward others gained her a wealth of deep loyal friendships that she was very grateful for. She was most proud of her family and lived for the memories she made with them. Her grandchildren were the center of her world.

JoAnn possessed many talents. She was a self taught pianist. She had a beautiful singing voice and was a member of the church choir in her younger years. She was also an outstanding Italian cook who enjoyed spoiling her family and friends.

Surviving are three children, Bart E. Burne, Jr. and wife Beverly, Laflin; Florence Weller and husband Robert, Hudson Florida; Joni Stone and husband Christopher, Clarks Summit; with whom she resided until her move to Green Ridge Health Care Center; two sisters, Preziosa Briga, Scranton and Lucille Regni, WI; six grandchildren, Nora Weber and husband David, Clarks Summit; Marla and Suzie Stone, Clarks Summit; Robert, Gregory and Nicholas Weller, Hudson Florida; one great granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth Weber and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a sister Angelina Pellegrini.

We would especially like to thank the staff of Green Ridge Health Care Center for their wonderful care throughout her time there. They truly became a second family to her. We would also like to thank the Sacred Heart Hospice for their compassion and comfort.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday at 10am at Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State Street, Clarks Summit, Pa. Interment will follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow.

Friends may call on Sunday from 4 to 7 pm at the Lawrence E Young Funeral Home and Cremation Svc., 418 S. State Street, Clarks Summit, Pa.

Memorials may be made in JoAnn's name to St. Joseph's Center, 320 S. Blakely Street., Dunmore, Pa 18512