John W. Burns

John William Burns, 59, passed away on April 16, 2014, after a period of declining health. Born in Boston and raised in Acton, MA., he was the son of William St. Clair Burns and Maryellen (Wright) Burns. He was a resident of Truro and Wellfleet before moving to Orange in Aug. 2013. John is survived by his mother Maryellen, of Orange, MA; his sister Andrea S. Cleary & husband Tom of Pepperell, MA; his brother James of Hampstead, N.H, formerly of Townsend MA; his sister Elizabeth K. Ortiz & husband Steve of Greenfield, MA; his brother in law Jay Howard of Millbury, MA; his nieces and nephews & their families: Joseph & Kelly Cleary, Michael & Carly Burns, Abby, Taryn & Arielle Ortiz, Jamie & William Howard, and Wendy (Howard) Hurd; his Aunt Marjorie Burns of Nashua, NH; his uncle Bob Burns of Woburn, MA; his uncle Wayne Wheeler of Nebo NC, his many cousins, 8 great grand nieces & nephews and one great great niece. He was predeceased by his father William in 1998 and his sister Donna (Burns) Howard in 2007. Visiting hours are Wed. April 23rd from 4-8pm at the Acton Funeral Home, 470 Massachusetts Avenue (Rte 111) Acton. The funeral service will be held Thurs. April 24th at 11am at the funeral home, with time for those who wish to share brief thoughts and memories of John. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery, Concord Rd, Acton Ctr. In lieu of flowers, donations in John's memory may be made to either the Franklin County Regional Dog Shelter, 10 Sandy Ln., Turners Falls, MA 01376 or to the COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Miami, FL 33134, copdfoundation.org Full obituary and online condolences at www.actonfuneralhome.com