Bertha Louise Burnham

Bertha Louise
Burnham, 102
HOLLIS -- Bertha Louise Burnham, 102, passed away on May 2, 2011, at Southridge Living and Rehab. Center in Biddeford.
She was born in Patten on June 2, 1908, and became the adopted daughter of the late Charles and Susan (Gibbs) Jellerson, two years later. She attended Gorham schools and went on to work at the Hollis center corn shop and overall shop.
On May 29, 1928, she married Chester Burnham in Gorham. Bertha spent her married life as a homemaker, sewing most of her children's clothing and taking in washing and ironing from the neighborhood. She will always be remembered for her cooking talents, especially her special banana oatmeal cookies. She also wrote for what was then the Sanford Tribune, writing about local events.
Bertha was also known for making home knit mittens for her grandchildren and neighborhood children, making crazy patchwork quilts of all sizes and pot holders for everyone.
Mrs. Burnham was the current holder of the Boston Post Cane for the town of Hollis.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Chester C. Burnham; a son, George Burnham; and a granddaughter, Corinna Bolster. Bertha is survived by her children, Rita Anderson of Hollis, Hazel Fritz of Hollis, and Leroy Burnham of Lyman; grandchildren, Louisa Anderson, Ramona Snell, Wanda Rounds, Harry Anderson, Julie Mitchell, David Fritz, Cynthia Burnham, Karen Davis, and Chester Burnham; and 12 great- grandchildren.
An hour of visitation will be held on Saturday, May 7, from 1-2 p.m., followed by a 2 p.m. funeral service at the Dennett, Craig & Pate Funeral Home, located on the corners of Rts 202 and 4A (13 Portland Rd.) in Buxton (Bar Mills). Burial will follow at Meeting House Hill Cemetery, Rt. 35, Hollis. The Rev. Dan Carr will officiate. www.dcpate.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial
contributions can be made to:
The Southern Maine Agency on Aging, Meals on Wheels Program
136 U.S. Route 1
Scarborough, Maine 04530
Bertha Louise Burnham