Helen J. Burnette

Helen J. Burnette, 69, of Gilmore Court in Jaffrey, N.H., died January 5 at the Monadnock Community Hospital in Petersborough, N.H., after a long illness.

She was the sister of Donald Kachur of Newtown.

Mrs Burnette was born on December 9, 1931, in Danbury, daughter of John and Catherine (Dominauckus) Kachur. She was a 1949 graduate of Danbury High School and had graduated from the Henry Abbott Technical School of Nursing as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1970. Mrs Burnette had worked at New Milford Hospital and Danbury Hospital. She had lived in the New Milford area until moving to Jaffrey, N.H., in February 2000 to be closer to her daughters.

Mrs Burnette had been a longtime member and deaconess at the Danbury-Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church in Bethel. She had also been active in Cub Scouting as a den leader for many years and had belonged to the Civil Air Patrol. Mrs Burnette loved the ocean and shopping. She was also a very talented sketch artist, using pastels and markers.

Mrs Burnette was predeceased by her husband, John Martelle Burnette, in 1996, whom she married on December 31, 1949.

In addition to her mother and brother, Mrs Burnette is survived by a son, John M Burnette, Jr, of Bristol; three daughters, Lori C. Rushia of Gardner, Mass., Maureen Colby of Jaffrey, N.H., and Barbara Sharpe of New Ipswich, N.H.; 11 grandchildren, one great-grandson; two sisters, Nancy Brougel of New Milford and Joyce Kachur of Middletown; one other brother, John Kachur of N.C.; and many nieces and nephews, cousins and close friends.

Funeral services were held January 9 at the Danbury-Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church, 65 Turkey Plain (Route 53), Bethel. A Memorial Service was held on January 11 at the Gardner Seventh Day Adventist Church, 100 Colony Road (Route 140), Gardner, Mass. Burial will be in the spring at Morningside Cemetery in Gaylordsville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Building Funds of either the Danbury-Bethel Seventh Day Adventist Church, 65 Turkey Plain (Route 53), Bethel, CT 06801, or the Gardner Seventh Day Adventist Church, 100 Colony Road (Route 140), Gardener, MA 01440.

The Cournoyer Funeral Home of Jeffrey, N.H., and the Colonial Funeral Home of New Milford assisted the family with arrangements.

To view and sign an online guest book or to offer condolences or share memories, please visit www.legacy.com.

The Newtown Bee         January 12, 2001