June C. Burns

June C. (Rahilly) Burns of Wollaston, a well known nurse and fixture of Boston and Quincy’s charitable landscape passed away Sunday after a short battle with Cancer. Born and Raised in Dorchester, June graduated from Saint Vincent’s in Worcester and began working as a nurse in Boston in 1955. She began her career at Children’s Hospital where she worked throughout the Polio epidemic, then went on to work as a private duty nurse at Boston City Hospital, Milton Hospital and the Caritas Carney Hospital where she became a nursing institution, caring for patients in the Cardiac Care and Step Down Units. June left an indelible mark on the lives of every co-worker, patient and their family members. She believed it was a privilege to be at the bedside of a sick person and to care for them. June was a very active member of Saint Ann’s Parish in Wollaston, as a member of the parish council, and Eucharistic minister bringing communion to the homes of those who couldn’t make the trip to the church, and knitting prayer shawls to comfort the ill. She worked with dozens of charitable groups over the years, and volunteered for the past ten years with Christmas in the City, helping thousands of homeless children to understand the true spirit and joy of the holiday. Mrs. Burns still worked part time with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) and at the Black Falcon Terminal greeting cruise ship passengers coming and going from the City. Mayor Thomas Menino, said “June’s quick wit and energy made her a force to be reckoned with. Her death is a tremendous loss not only to her loving family but to the greater Boston area where she had helped so many, in her own quiet and determined way.” A great traveler, with a great spirit for fun and adventure Mrs. Burns and a friend, Marie (Kelly) Flynn of Cambridge, packed up their starched white nursing uniforms and caps in her green Plymouth in 1957 and drove to Florida, working along the way to make gas money. Upon arrival in Miami they saw the Saint Francis Hospital, and June wondered “do you think they’ll let us in there.” With the excellence of Children’s Hospital on their resume, they were welcomed with open arms to work there for a few months. A few years later while working at Boston City Hospital, now the Boston Medical Center, June suggested a drive to California to Marie, Peggy (Francis) Calloe of Sharon and Cathy (Reynolds) Cipriano of Arlington and the four were on the road again. She went on to travel the Panama Canal on the Queen Elizabeth II, from London on the Concorde with her friend of 65 years Peg McMorrow of Walpole, and to Ireland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Alaska and China. June was always on the go, with her pals in the water aerobics classes at the Quincy Y or walking around Castle Island. She was featured on WBZ-TV several times in the 90’s when her daughter Mariellen worked as a reporter there. Her devotion and pride in her children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews was legendary. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Robert Sr., a WW II veteran, three sons, Robert Jr. of Annandale VA, Brian of Wollaston and United States Army Colonel Stephen Burns of Springfield VA, her daughter, WRKO radio talk host Mariellen of Boston, daughter’s in-law Janet and Kimberly, and her loving grandchildren Timothy, Gregory, Michael and Emily. June was the sister of the late Maria Bemus, Joseph Rahilly & Jeremiah “Buddy” Rahilly. Loving aunt of Frank McNeil, Cathie Amate, Sally Santiago, Robert Norton, Jr., Gregory Lake, MaryKay Feinberg, Thomas Norton, Christopher & Jennifer Lake. June is also survived by her extended family at Caritas Carney Hospital and St. Ann’s Parish. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Life Celebration Service in Keohane Funeral Home, 785 Hancock St., QUINCY, Thursday at 9:15 AM. Funeral Mass in St. Ann’s Church, Wollaston at 10 AM. Visiting hours Wednesday 2-4 & 7-9PM. Burial in Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge. The family asks that expressions of sympathy in June’s honor be made to the Caritas Carney Hospital Foundation, 2100 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124.