DAVID FOWLE BURNES

DAVID F. BURNES.   –   a lifelong resident of Woburn, April 29th, 2023.  Beloved husband of Barbara A. Budrow Burnes and the late Elizabeth Burnes.  Devoted father of Donald L. Burnes, his wife Gloria Moriarty-Burnes  of CA and Susan E. Burnes of Maryland.  Dear brother of Richard Burnes, his wife Jan of Bedford and the late Barbara Boyle.  Cherished Grandpa of Boswell, Apollonia, her fiancé Orel, Giovanni and Brazton Burnes, Davy and Juliana Bahan. Adored great-grandpa of Luca.  Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to the wake, Thursday evening 4-7 p.m at Lynch-Cantillon, 263 Main Street, Woburn. A Funeral Mass will be held in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn on Friday, May  5th at 10 a.m.  It will be open to relatives and friends. Burial at the cemetery is private, for family members only. In lieu of flowers , remembrances may be made to honor David to the  New England Home for the Deaf, 154 Water Street, Danvers, MA 01923, The Deaf Catholic Apostolate, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, MA 02184, or the Dementia Society of America PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.

David F. Burnes, a lifelong resident of Woburn, passed away Saturday afternoon, April 29^th, with his beloved wife and close family friend, Colleen Shaw at his side.  The loving husband of Barbara Budrow Burnes, he was  eighty-seven years of age.

Born in Woburn, David was son of the late Harold and Ruth (Fowle) Burnes.   Raised in Woburn, David attended The Horace Mann School for the Deaf, where he graduated from in 1953. Following that, he attended Medford Vocational High School in 1956.  David then went on to Wentworth Institute, where he studied Architectural Design, which was his focus and profession for over the next thirty-two years.  Upon his retirement from architecture, he then became a “Handy-Man” where he was extremely busy for the next decade.  

David had married Elizabeth Hambro in 1959, and brought a son and a daughter into the world, of whom he was so proud of.  Over the next forty-one years they focused on their children and were most attentive to all their happenings!  They enjoyed time spent camping and then at their vacation home in Laconia, NH where they created many memories throughout all seasons.  Long Beach in Gloucester  held a special place for him which he spent most of his childhood summer times there.  Beaches at Cape Ann and Lake Winnipesaukee have always held a special place in their hearts.  

In 2003 David married Barbara Budrow, and they have been devoted to each other for over the last twenty years.  Their itinerary over the years included but not limited to travelling!  Alaska, Aruba, Canada,  Jamaica, Ireland, Iceland and cruises on the Caribbean to name a few.  He was an avid Boston Sport fan that wore Boston sport attire, including a cap on almost everyday, especially of Patriots during his travels and at home.    No matter what the season, David was very proud of all his Boston teams, and being a Bostonian.  David, along with Barbara were loyal to participating in Bingo events at the New England Home for the Deaf on a regular basis with the North Shore Deaf Seniors and Friends of the Home throughout 17 years!

David was also very active throughout the deaf community throughout his years.  He was actively involved in deaf clubs with softball and basketball in his younger years.  He was a member of the Massachusetts Outdoor Deaf Club.  He served on the Board of Trustees for the “Friends of the Home”,  the North Shore Deaf Seniors and the South Shore Deaf Senior Groups.   He was proud of being active in sports and being handy, building an expansion of his home, including adding a porch and a shed.  He loved working with his hands and tending to his garden.  He enjoyed going to the gym with Barbara, staying healthy.  He also enjoyed bowling, which was something he did for over twenty five years having received the “Hall of Fame Bowler Award ”, which was through the New England States Deaf Bowlers Association.

A wonderfully kind man, David enjoyed being with his family. When his grandchildren were around calling him “Grandpa” he lit up and was quite invested in his time spent with them.  He reached out in many different ways and directions, with people.  Always a kid at heart, David had everyone’s best interest at heart throughout his life. 

A very easy going, kind and gentle man, has truly left this world a much better place for everyone,  who had the pleasure of sharing life with him.

Beloved husband of Barbara Budrow Burnes and the late Elizabeth Burnes.  Devoted father of Donald L. Burnes, his wife Gloria Moriarty-Burnes  of CA, Sue E. Burnes of Maryland and dear father in law of Ben Bahan.  Dear brother of Richard Burnes, his wife Jan of Bedford and the late Barbara Boyle.  Cherished Grandpa of Boswell, Apollonia, her fiancé Orel, Giovanni and Brazton Burnes, Davy and Juliana Bahan. Adored great-grandpa of Luca. 

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to the wake, Thursday evening 4-7 p.m at Lynch-Cantillon, 263 Main Street, Woburn. A Funeral Mass will be held in St. Charles Church, 280 Main Street, Woburn on Friday, May  5th at 10 a.m.  It will be open to relatives and friends. Burial at the cemetery is private, for family members only. In lieu of flowers , remembrances may be made to honor David to the  New England Home for the Deaf, 154 Water Street, Danvers, MA 01923, The Deaf Catholic Apostolate, 66 Brooks Drive, Braintree, MA 02184, or the Dementia Society of America PO Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901.