Loretta Burns

Loretta (Chisholm) Burns, 97, of Auburn, died Thursday, August 21 in the UMass-Memorial Medical Center Memorial Campus after a short illness.

Her husband, Francis A. Burns, died in 1989. She leaves a daughter, Carol B. Donnelly and son-in-law, James C. Donnelly Jr. of Worcester; two grandchildren: James C. Donnelly IV of West Hollywood, Calif. and Sarah Y. Donnelly of Jersey City, N.J.; a sister, Alice C. Allard of Auburn; nieces and nephews, including Robert P. Kelleher of Springfield, Patricia K. Cassidy of Worcester, Judie G. Brennan of Atlanta, Ga., Janet A. Williams of Millbury and John P. Gahagan of St. John, New Brunswick, and several grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was born in Worcester, daughter of C. Charles and Frances Lavinia (Hebert) Chisholm. She has lived in Auburn for 57 years, where she was a member of St. Joseph's Parish, and was active in church and community organizations. She, her brother and five sisters, were born and raised on Grafton Hill and spent their early adult years in the Main South neighborhood of Worcester. Her Hebert ancestry traces back to Ettienne Hebert and Marie Gaudet, who immigrated from France to the Grand Pre settlement in Acadia (now Port Royal, Nova Scotia) where they were married in 1650.

There will be a Memorial Mass on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Peter's Church, 931 Main St., Worcester. Other arrangements are private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UMass-Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 2795, Worcester, MA 01613-9938.

The Athy Memorial Home, 111 Lancaster St., Worcester, is directing funeral arrangements.