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Rita Burns
RITA BURNS
Cosgrove
Rita Mae Burns, 89, of rural Cosgrove, passed away peacefully on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, at Lantern Park Care Center. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 25, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Cosgrove with the Rev. Edmond Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City. A rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. and a parish vigil service will begin at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the church from 9:30 a.m. until services Friday.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the St. Peter's Cemetery Fund or to Lantern Park Care Center.
Rita was born Aug. 31, 1924, in Iowa City, the daughter of Francis Philip and Clara (Laschke) Murphy. She was raised on a farm south of Iowa City and later graduated from St. Patrick High School. On Jan. 5, 1944, Rita married Thomas Burns and together they lived on the family farm west of Cosgrove for over 65 years.
Rita was a homemaker and also enjoyed her time working as a hot lunch cook for the Cosgrove school system. She loved to crochet, garden and enjoyed flowers, traveling and most importantly, the time spent with her family. She will be dearly missed.
Survivors include her seven children, Virginia (Jim) Cram of Coralville, Frances Burns of Iowa City, Roberta Reed of Cedar Falls, Patrick (Becky) Burns of Cedar Rapids, Phyliss Burns of Pompano Beach, Fla., Philip (Linda) Burns of Kansas City, Mo., and Dennis (Denise) Burns of Lucasville, Ohio; a sister, Ellen Coan of Iowa City; eight grandchildren, Bill Cram, Kris Strauch, Scot Reed, Amber Reed, Natalie DeFord, Angie Tower, Brad Burns and Matthew Burns; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Rita was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; four siblings, Grace, Ray, Marie and Ralph; and two grandchildren, Ryan and Sue Ann.
Online condolences may be left for the family at
www.lensingfuneral.com.
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