Irene Burns

Irene Burns August 16, 1921 – July 5, 2018 Irene Burns, née Irene Lesieux, was born in Ludwigshafen, Germany on August 16th, 1921 and resided in Paris, France throughout her early years. Irene passed from our world on July 5, 2018. She was preceded in death by her husband David Marvin Burns, and eldest son Terry Alan Burns. Fluent in English, French, and German, Irene met her husband David following the liberation of Paris in 1944 during World War II. Despite being swept off her feet by this dashing American Colonel, Irene heeded her mother’s words to never marry a man in uniform. Irene waited until after David’s decommissioning from the Army stateside after the war and his return to Europe as an American businessman. Irene experienced the horrors of war and occupation during World War II and the simple joys of family life in the quiet of the midwestern United States in Toledo, Ohio. Raising three boys, Irene became a fixture at little league and high school baseball, basketball, and football games throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s. She will be remembered for her quiet voice of encouragement, always taking her boy’s side and loving each more than the other. She had a special place in her heart for her niece, Diane, the daughter of her sister, Raymonde, who also came to America from France after the war. Irene was proud of everything about Diane and loved her like her own. Irene was close not only to her own family, but to David’s family as well. Her Catholic upbringing in France was no barrier to her love of David’s family and their Jewish faith. Her French cuisine was the envy of the neighborhood and her “aperitif” a favorite of many. Irene’s quiet French “flair” and love of sewing, made her many a friend. Always by his side, Irene and David, loved, laughed, and shared everything in their lives together. They traveled extensively throughout Europe and the Middle East and took their boys on trips across the United States, Irene always in wonder of her adopted country. Irene is survived by her sons Randy and wife Ruby, Craig and wife Martha, her grandchildren Brandon and Brett and spouses Anita and Melissa, grandchildren Josh and Dustin and spouse Aubrey, grandchildren Kelly, Emily, Olivia and Andrew, and great grandchildren Macyn and Kendall, Benjamin and Graham, Azalea, Arabella, and Ayana, and Sloan and Lila. A memorial gathering for friends and family will be held on September 15th, 2018 at the home of Brett and Melissa Burns, 3728 Sulphur Spring Road, Ottawa Hills, Ohio, from 1:30 pm until 4:30 pm. A Memorial Mass in Irene’s honor will be celebrated at Gesu Church on September 16th, 2018 at 11:30 am. Condolences may be expressed online at www.ansberg-west.com. The family asks that any donations in Irene’s memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Irene Burns

August 16, 1921 - July 5, 2018