Virginia Ann Burns

Virginia Ann "Ginny" Burns, 86, of Kansas City, MO passed away January 20, 2015. The rosary will be prayed at 4:00 pm Friday, January 23rd at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 1001 E. 52nd St., Kansas City, MO followed by visitation until 7:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 am Saturday at St. Francis Xavier Church. Private interment will be held at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church or a charity of your choice.

Ginny was born December 27, 1928 in Kansas City, MO to Maurice and Margaret (Leahy) Stack. Ginny was preceded in death by her husband Edmund D. "Ed" Burns; a son, Mark Burns; two brothers, Robert and Maurice Stack and her parents. She is survived by her children Greg Burns, Tim Burns and wife Marianne, Peggy Burns-Yocum and husband Chip Yocum, Annie Burns and husband John Monahan; daughter-in-law, Margaret Patterson; grandchildren, Nicole Burns Craig and husband B.J. Craig, Luke and McKenzie Burns, Katie and Tracy Burns-Yocum, Maggie and Jack Monahan; sister-in-law Dorothy Burns and brother-in-law, Wendall Burns and wife Eleanor and many cherished nieces and nephews. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.muehlebachchapel.com

Ginny Burns led a life dedicated to family, faith, community and education. In 1954, Ginny and Ed met while they were working at Catholic Community Service. She invited Ed out on a first date to the Boy Scout Round-Up Rodeo and they were married five months later. Within just a few years, their Birchwood home was filled with five active and strong-willed children as well as neighbors and friends. Ginny taught her kids the importance of working hard, doing their best and serving others. Ed and Ginny?s 55-year marriage was a living example of love, respect and commitment throughout all the fun, challenges and successes of parenthood and marriage.

Ginny Stack grew up in Hyde Park and the Stack home was the central gathering place for all the relatives including the Greats, such as Aunt Fee and Fr. Will, Kaddy and Jim Donovan, Betty and Gerald Stack, Aunty and Bob Hall. Ginny learned the lessons there of caring for family and making everyone feel included and at home.

With a family dedicated to the value of education, Ginny went to St. James grade school before attending Loretto Academy. She was one of the lucky young women of her era to go to college at Webster College in St. Louis. She chose the same career as her beloved Aunt Fee and starting teaching. As an educator, she sought out and developed the potential in each child she taught. Ginny found her home teaching in Catholic schools -- as the first lay teacher in the Kansas City/St. Joseph Archdiocese at Christ the King, then for many, many years at St. Elizabeth's and St. Regis, where students still recall her dedication to reading and math ("Math is beautiful!").

Ginny was known for her strong intellect, quick wit and fierce loyalty. She loved introducing people to all things Kansas City, including the Kansas City Royals, the Country Club Plaza at Christmas, Winsteads, the Liberty Memorial, the Pioneer Mother Statue, the Stockyards (the Golden Ox!) a good steak or barbecue. She was devoted to the great Burns Family Sing-a-long, Grandma Ginny days, driving around town, The Blues Brothers, The National Catholic Reporter, PBS, and St. Francis Xavier church (the Fish Church), but above all, she adored and respected and was fiercely loyal to her family, friends and especially her seven grandchildren.

Thank you to all who helped care for Ginny Burns in the last few years, especially Louis Jackson, Maggie Patterson, Demetria Jackson, Sam Patterson, Michelle Groves and Kim Jones. A special shout out to Northcare Hospice for their dedicated service over the last several months.