Dr. Rosemary Burns

Dr. Rosemary Burns
Leominster, MA native; 81

LEOMINSTER -- Dr. Rosemary Burns, a longtime resident of Reston, VA, passed away peacefully at home on June 8, 2016.

She was born in Leominster, MA on December 28, 1934, the beloved daughter of H. Martin and Margaret (Edna) Farrell Burns. She was a graduate of Leominster High School and received her Bachelor's Degree from Regis College, a Master's Degree from Connecticut College and a PHD in Clinical Psychology from Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. She subsequently worked as a therapist at the Woodburn Center for Community Mental Health; was the Director of Youth and Family Services at the Northwest Center for Community Mental Health in Fairfax County, VA; and had a private practice, specializing in Clinical Psychology, for many years in Reston, VA. In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 disaster at the Pentagon, she volunteered her services to aid in the recovery.

Rosemary was an active member of St. John Neumann Church in Reston. She participated in the committee that organized and planned liturgical celebrations within the community, acted as a team leader for those considering entering the church and proclaimed the Scriptures at liturgical celebrations. She also was a member of the American Psychological Association and the Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychology.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents and also her cousins, Anne O'Connor of Leominster, MA and Cecelia Nicholas of Palmer, MA. She is survived by her cousin, Colonel William O'Connor of Boerne, TX and his children, Matthew O'Connor of Los Gatos, CA and his wife, Cathy and daughters, Isabella and Brigid; Patrick O'Connor of Edmond, OK and his wife, Heather and daughters, Kira and Brynne; and Elizabeth Tolar of San Antonio, TX and her husband, Thomas and daughter Sarah and son William.

She is also survived by her cousin, Lawrence Farrell and his wife, Yvonne of Lunenburg, MA, Gayle Nicholas and her husband, George McCarroll of San Diego, CA, Robert Nicholas of Palmer, MA, and Betty Ann Holmes of Groton, CT.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on June 27th at St. John Neumann Church in Reston, VA.

The Burial will be on August 19th at 11:00 AM at St. Leo's Cemetery in Leominster, MA.

THE CURLEY MARCHAND FUNERAL HOME, 89 West St., Leominster assisted the family with local arrangements.

Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in her memory to Holy Cross Abbey, 901 Cool Spring Lane, Berryville VA 22611 or to St. John Neumann Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, VA 20191.