Mary E. Burnham

Portage, Indiana

Mary E. Burnham, age 91, a longtime resident of Valparaiso and Portage, passed away in Peoria, Illinois on Sunday, June 19, 2011. She was born on February 26, 1920 in Omaha, Nebraska and raised by her loving parents William and Ruth Pedersen. She was married on June 1, 1940 to Walter Burnham in Peoria. Mary worked as a cashier for 25 years with Goldblatts in Gary and then worked for over 22 years at Fountain View – Golden Living Center in Portage in their housekeeping department. She was a member of the Portage Church of Christ and was loved by all that knew her. She never had a bad word to say and had a very loving and forgiving nature.

Mary is survived by her loving family; daughter Linda Sanders, Lake Station, six grandchildren; James Burnham, Corey Burnham, Kelly Burnham, Jeanine Snoder, Jacqueline Snoder, and Charles Sanders, two great grandchildren; Connor Crofton and Annalise Sanders, brothers Robert (Mickie) Allen, Ventura, California, and William Pedersen, Peoria, Illinois, daughter-in-law Patricia Burnham, Portage, and other loving family and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents William and Ruth Pedersen, her husband Walter Burnham, her son James Burnham, her infant son Walter Burnham, her twin sister Marie Lesicko, and her brother Eugene Allen.

A visitation for Mary Burnham will be held from 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm on Saturday, June 25, 2011 at Rees Funeral Home – Olson Chapel, 5341 Central Avenue, Portage with a funeral service following immediately at 1:00 pm. Burial will be at 1:00 pm on Monday, June 27, 2011 at Parkview Cemetery in Peoria, Illinois. Memorials in Mary's memory may be made to the Portage Church of Christ. For further information please call Rees Funeral Home at (219) 762-3013 or online at www.reesfuneralhomes.com.