TOM J. BURNS

Tom J. Burns, of Thunder Bay, Ont., passed away Friday, Dec. 28, 2012 at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre in Thunder Bay surrounded by his family.
Tom was born Oct. 21, 1940 to Harry and Evalina Burns at Manitou Rapids First Nation.
Tom worked on both sides of the border. He started his working life at the age 16 and worked various jobs, including the forestry service and as a lumber jack for a number of years.
He later moved to Thunder Bay and started working for the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre before spending some years prior to his retirement at the Balmoral Centre.
Tom was predeceased by his wife of 34 years, Mary (nee McGillis); sons, Archie and Roy; brother, Barry Burns; and sister, Rachel Burns.
He is survived by his daughters, Bernadette and Veronica; granddaughter, Jazmine; as well as his sister, Bessie (Elmer) Mainville and her family.
Tom was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish for a number of years, regularly attending Mass. Tom was particularly devoted to Our Lady of Fatima.
A visitation will take place Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013 from 4 p.m. at the Couchiching First Nation multi-use facility. Parish prayers will be offered at 7 p.m.
Funeral mass will be held Thursday, Jan. 3, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church at Couchiching First Nation.
Interment will take place in the Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery.
The pallbearers will be Tony Mainville, John Mainville, Elmer Mainville Jr., Vernon Horton, Derek Horton, and Marcel Horton.
The honourary pallbearers will be Delbert Horton, Doug Horton, Elmer Mainville Sr., Joe Medicine Sr., Gaylord Horton, and Ray Deafy.
If friends so desire, in memoriam donations may be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Diabetes Association c/o Green Funeral Home, P.O. Box 427, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M8.
Online condolences may be offered at www.greenfuneralhomefortfrances.com