Click here to watch Catherine’s live funeral service on Saturday at 10:00AM



BURNS, Catherine (nee McNerney) 88, of Oakland, passed away into her eternal home on January 4, 2022. Catherine was born in New York, NY to Peter and Sarah (Boylan) McNerney. She had previously lived in Garfield with her family before moving to Oakland 59 years ago. Catherine was predeceased in 2012 by her husband of 54 years, George Burns. Before her retirement in 2005, Catherine worked as the executive assistant to the President of Ramapo College. She was a parishioner of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oakland and was also active in the Oakland Seniors. Catherine was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and enjoyed time spent with her family above all else. In her retirement she was able to visit well over 15 countries. Catherine’s love of sweets and gardening was only outdone by her love of her 13 grandchildren.

Loving mother of Barbara Fitzpatrick and her husband Joe of Newton, Michael and his wife Linda of Bernardsville, Brian and his wife Kim of Sparta, James and his wife Anna of Suffern, NY, Brendan and his wife Lisa of Bridgewater, and Christopher Burns of New York, NY. Cherished grandmother of 13 grandchildren, and great grandmother of 2 great grandchildren.

Family and friends may visit on Friday, January 7, 2022, from 4 – 8 PM at the Vander Plaat-Vermeulen Memorial Home, 530 High Mountain Road, Franklin Lakes, NJ. Funeral mass to be held on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 25 Purdue Avenue, Oakland, NJ. Interment to follow at Mary Rest Cemetery in Mahwah.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Catherine’s memory to American Cancer Society.