Obituary of Elizabeth Louise Burns

DELMAR –Elizabeth Louise (Lomery) Burns was born in 1923 in Sheds, New York to Joseph and Nila Lomery. She died peacefully after a short illness on July 9, 2018. She was the fourth of six children. She graduated from Oneida High School in 1940, and then enrolled at the State Teachers College at Buffalo for two years, but war work interrupted her studies. In 1948 she married Edward T. Burns of Oneida. The two had a son named Thomas in 1949 and daughter, Ann, in 1951. For several years Elizabeth worked as Director of Christian Education at the First Presbyterian Church in Oneida. In 1959 she returned to college to complete her undergraduate degree and in 1967 she moved with her family to Albany to enter a doctoral program at the State University. Upon her graduation she became one of the first women in her generation to obtain a doctoral degree and began a successful career as a counseling psychologist at SUNYA. She retired in 1989. In 1975 Elizabeth bought an 1884 row house across from Washington Park on Madison Avenue. It was the pride and joy of her life for many years. Her garden was a constant delight and her Christmas decorations were legendary. She was an accomplished baker and could easily whip up several pies before breakfast. After she retired, Elizabeth fulfilled her lifelong dream of traveling to far off countries. She also became active in the Albany Society of Architectural Historians. For the past several years, she participated in another of her life's passions: water exercise, through which she met many lifelong friends. She was a voracious reader and was never without several library books on her desk. Elizabeth read three newspapers a day and provided a "clipping service" for her family and friends. She was a committed union member and remained interested in and advocated for progressive causes throughout her life. She was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. She will be remembered for her keen intelligence, her quick wit and her deep caring and compassion. Throughout her long life, Elizabeth made many friends and forged many bonds, but she especially cherished her friendship with Laurie Shanks. Laurie was both her dear friend and a fierce advocate. The gratitude felt by Elizabeth's family for Laurie's kindness cannot be overstated. In addition, Elizabeth's family wishes to acknowledge the love and support of her friends at Atria, her workout companions at the pool, her long-time neighbor Joan, and the kind and dedicated doctors and nurses at Albany Medical Center Hospital. She is survived by two sisters, Shirley and Barbara; her daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Vincent Cox; and her grandchildren, Kathleen, Dana and Brendan Cox. In accordance with her wishes, her family will not be holding a memorial service, but asks instead that you please make donations to the Friends of the Bethlehem Public Library (via www.crowdrise.com/elizabeth-burns), Albany Medical Center, or a charity of your choice.