Rita F. Burns passed away at the McClure Miller Respite House on Friday, January 2, 2026. She was born in Colchester, Vt., on April 7, 1931, the daughter of the late Thomas and Grace Fleming.
Rita graduated from Essex Junction High School on Prospect Street. (Prospect Street School was later renamed Thomas Fleming Elementary School in honor of Rita’s father.) Later, Rita worked at various businesses in Burlington, Vt., including Julian Goodrich Architect. Once her children started school, Rita embarked on a new career. She started working at IBM in 1965 and retired in 1983.
Rita met the love of her life, Kenneth E. Burns, the “boy next door,” at the ripe old age of 14! They courted for the next five years and were married in 1951. Rita and Ken had five children, Gary, David, Kathy, Jeffrey and Danny. Their summers included camping at many public and private campgrounds in Vermont. They loved to travel and visited such places as Washington, D.C., Tennessee, Missouri and Hawaii. After retiring, Rita and Ken spent their time between their camp on Lake Eden and escaping to Florida for the winter.
Rita is survived by her daughter, Kathy (Carolin), and her husband, John, of Colchester, as well as her son, Dan, and his wife, Suzanne, of Jericho. Rita leaves six grandchildren, Jennifer, Matthew, Andrea, Kristen, Zachary and Gary Jr. She leaves five great-grandchildren, Oliver, Wyatt, Dylan, Josephine and Damien. Rita was predeceased by her husband, Ken; her sons Gary, David and Jeffrey; and granddaughter Shannon.
There will be no public visiting hours per Rita’s wishes. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 16, 11 a.m., at St. Pius X Church in Essex, Vt. Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the McClure Miller Respite House, 3113 Roosevelt Hwy., Colchester, VT 05446.
The family invites you to share your memories and online condolences by visiting awrfh.com.
This article appears in The Wellness Issue • 2026.
Our deepest sympathies to Kathy and the family. I enjoyed our chats during Meals on Wheels visits. Such a lovely lady, may she rest in peace