Margaret O'Rourke "Peg" Burns

1927 - 2017

Burns Margaret "Peg" O'Rourke Burns, born in Rutland, Vermont on September 22, 1927; died peacefully on January 22, 2017. She graduated from Mt. St. Joseph Academy in Rutland and earned her BS in Nursing Summa Cum Laude from The College of St. Rose, Albany, N.Y. where she also met the love of her life at a dance. Her husband's career necessitated a move to Columbus in 1953, but her heart always remained in Vermont. She enjoyed a rewarding career as a registered nurse supervisor and clinic out-patient coordinator at St. Ann's Hospital and was instrumental in helping to design and move the OB department from its previous downtown location to Westerville. In 1974 she was a representative with a U.S. State Department committee of doctors and nurses who traveled to Moscow and Leningrad with the mission of observing the Soviets' methods of medical care and providing recommendations for modeling U.S. "Best Practices". She retired after thirty years of service. She was preceded in death by her loving husband William J. Burns, parents Charles and Margaret O'Rourke of Rutland. VT, sons William J. Burns and Michael C. Burns, Columbus, brothers William O'Rourke, CT and Charles J. (Peg) O'Rourke, Albany NY, sister Eileen M. O'Rourke, Washington, D.C. and sister-in-law Elizabeth Koberger, Troy, NY. She was an incredible Irish matriarch who always placed family above everything else. She is survived by her grateful children, Maureen (James) Powell and Kathleen (Joseph) Servick, Gahanna, Timothy (Denise) Burns of Oxford, MI; and daughters-in-law, Patricia Burns, IN and Dottie Burns, Gahanna. She was a loving and doting grandmother to James (Libby) Powell, Middletown, IN, Jeffrey (Jenny) Powell, Gahanna, Michael (Megan) Powell, Lewis Center, William J Burns III, CA, Brendan Burns, AZ, Brian (Penni) Burns, CA, Brittany Burns, CA, Patrick Burns, CA, Joseph (Jessica) Servick, Germany, Kevin (Megan) Servick, Megan (Tristan) McLean, and Kate Servick, Gahanna. She never missed an opportunity to attend an athletic event, a school activity or celebrate the birthdays of her 16 great-grandchildren, including Carson, Avarie, and Eden Powell, IN, Emma and Grace Powell, Gahanna, Emerson, Hudson, Greyson, and Colton Powell, Lewis Center, Alexa, Ryan, and Connor Burns, AZ, Mira, Joseph IV, and Charlotte Servick, Germany, Molly McLean, Gahanna. She is also survived by sister, Nancy DelBianco, Rutland, Vt.; and many nieces and nephews, and cousins and friends in Vermont, New York and Columbus. She was an avid volunteer and former officer of the local district of the Ohio Nurses' Association; past president of the St. Philip the Apostle Altar Rosary Society; served on the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; the Pregnancy Distress Center; Diocesan Vicariate Representative from St. Matthew Parish; service board member of the Child Guidance Center; the Franklin County WIC Program at St. Ann's; and member of the Mt. Carmel Auxiliary. She was a founding member of the St. Philip the Apostle Church and current member of St. Matthew the Apostle Church in Gahanna. She enjoyed many Elderhostel adventures, traveling the world with dear friends and family, and card groups. She was a lover of Ireland, Vermont, Catholics, Notre Dame, Bishop Hartley High School, and the Democratic Party. She will be missed and long remembered as she taught our family that there is a place for strong, smart, independent women in America. The College of St. Rose yearbook described her as "a lovable combination of Vermont and Ireland. She might well be the pride of both! Her future is clearly planned, the best possible medicine for any patient.a perpetual, sincere and warm smile-Peggy." She concluded a life well lived with these final words- "With love and prayers for a wonderful family, relatives, friends, and Irish traditions.Thanks be to God." Friends may call on Friday 4-8 p.m. at EGAN-RYAN FUNERAL HOME, 403 E. Broad St. Mass of the Christian Burial Saturday 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew the Apostle Church, 801 Havens Corner. Gahanna. Rev. Ted Sill, Celebrant. Interment to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends who wish may donate to the Bishop Hartley High School Scholarship Fund, 1285 Zettler Rd., Columbus, OH 43227 or Mt. St. Joseph Academy Endowment Fund, 127 Convent Avenue, Rutland, Vermont 05701. Visit www.egan-ryan.com to offer condolences.